Log Transcript

This is Genevieve Johnson talking to you from Christmas Island in Kiribati. The Odyssey has just 'returned' to Christmas Island for the last time, after the conclusion of our third leg based out of this tropical pacific atoll. Joining us on this leg were Kim Marshall-Tilas, Ocean Alliance Senior Director, Tom Tilas, Chairman of the board and Lorraine Downey, both a board member and an excellent cook. While we did not see sperm whales during this last passage we did see some species we had not expected
(see the November 8th log)

Although it is disappointing to only have heard sperm whales once, but never to have seen them here, it is not all that surprising, since the old whalers encountered only a few in these waters. Our hopes are rising as we set out on the next leg that will take us into waters where we have higher hopes of finding sperm whales.

Marsha Coates and Mike Roden have joined the Odyssey for the crossing to Tarawa, both have come to us thanks to another excellent long term research program run by good friends of ours - the 'Wild dolphin Projectâ in Florida.

We will be in port here for a few days, while we provision for the next long pacific crossing. Roger Payne will join that leg. He has been in Argentina for the last month continuing our right whale program (this was it's 30th year)

This next leg will see us sailing 1800 miles along the equator to the Island of Tarawa, the capitol of Kiribati. This trip will take us about a month as we pass through historic sperm whaling grounds. Between provisioning and preparing the boat, the crew will take a few days off, taking some time for further exploration of the atoll before we leave.

Log by Genevieve Johnson

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