February 25 — We are in the middle of the Southern Ocean at 51 degrees south, tracking the Greenwich Meridian still six days out of Cape Town, and unfortunately we cannot join you in Geneva tonight.
We are with you in spirit though and celebrating the IPY tonight with a toast onboard the South African Antarctic research vessel SA Agulhas. On behalf of ITASC expedition leader Ntsikelelo Ntshingila, crew members Erika Blumenfeld, Lotter Kock and myself, and all the scientists and engineers who joined us at the ICEPAC IPY Base during its installation at Vesleskarvet Nunatak this Antarctic summer, we would like to congratulate you all on your respective projects for the International Polar Year and we would forward to many more years of collaboration towards science and peace in Antarctica.
Our special thanks go to Henry Valentine, Adriaan Dreyer and all the staff and expedition members of the South African National Antarctic Program, including Captain Freddie Ligthelm and the crew of the SA Agulhas, who made the impossible possible and without whose support our project for the IPY would not have been realised.
Enjoy the party. Peace in Antarctica.