Icy swim celebrates Antarctic sunrise
By SUZANNE KEEN Temperatures of —l3deg and 15-knot winds did not blunt the enthusiasm of a group of Antarctic dwellers who abandoned snowshoes and shyness for a chilly sea swim on Sunday. After being in darkness all winter, 38 staff of the Scott and McMurdo Station bases made the quick dip to celebrate the sunrise.
However, the weather was not as favourable as it might have been. Although there was daylight the sun was hidden behind clouds and by the time the shivering swimmers emerged the wind was up to 45 knots.
They had had to enter a hole in the sea-ice, which was about 60cm thick. Swims are held three times a year — at sunset, midwinter and sunrise. Sunday’s swim was the “warmest” this year. The new head of the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Mr Hugh Logan, was greeted by —37 deg temperatures on his arrival at Scott Base. He was one of the passengers on a winter flight which arrived at McMurdo Station yesterday. Some of the New Zealanders will renovate the command centre at Scott Base.
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Press, 24 August 1988, Page 3
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190Icy swim celebrates Antarctic sunrise Press, 24 August 1988, Page 3
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