Recreation - 3 February 2008
- Published: 05 February 2008 11:27
- Author: Phil Wells
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- Last Updated: 05 February 2008 13:13
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Sunday 3 February 2008
Recreation is a very important part of life on board the Shackleton. Whilst at sea there is no escape from the ship and the recreational facilities on board are one of the best ways to keep fit, let off steam and kill some time. On the Shackleton there are the following facilities:
A gym area, zoned out from a storage space in the main hold. As a result it picks up a bit of dust and debris, but I don't think anyone is complaining. In it there is a multi-gym, bench, a few dumbell weights and an old and slightly rusty concept II indoor rower. My favourite is the rower because I know this machine and am used to it. I thought I was. Rowing on the CII in the Shackleton feels just like rowing on water. As the ship pitches and moves about the rower moves about too. Sometimes you are rowing up hill, sometimes down, or leaning to the left or right. It's a really active twist on a familiar machine. It is most uncanny when it loses its frictional grip of the deck and starts sliding around on the floor of the main hold.
As we are carrying only a small amount of cargo, the deck to the main hold has been adapted into a badminton court, for wonky badminton. We've played doubles with some of the crew. With a lop-sided net and bent badminton racquets we played a one sided game for about 45 minutes on a few occasions. The crew seemed experts and always kept their feet. Whenever we went to make a shot, depending upon which way the ship was moving at the time, we would either spring gracefully into the air, or crumple straight into the deck. Add to this the low level halogen lights shining in your eyes and blurred vision from the sea sickness drugs, it makes for a very interesting game. This will take some getting used to and as we only have about a week left on the ship, I really don't think we will master it, but will persevere.
There is also an exercise bike on the same deck level, on the other side of the laundry. It's a good one but, like the rower, it really feels like you are being toyed with by the ship. Like the rower, the bike is a bit worn. When using it, there is little resistance to the peddles. You can't help cycling at 120 rpm no matter what intensity level you are on. With the pitching and rolling of the ship, you have no choice but to lock your arms into the handle bars and hold on for dear life. The bike is fixed back to the bulkhead wall with a couple of adapted shelf brackets so should not fall over, but it does feel like it is being tested to the limit.
I had noticed that the crew were never seen in the gym or on the bike. I thought it might be because of their shifts or because they were tired after their days and nights work. Yesterday we went on a tour of the engine room with the Chief Engineer Peter Brigden. When we came to the wet science room we saw a concept II, running machine, step machine and other fitness items – all brand new! The crew have their own private gym! Crafty.
In the lounge (red room) there are lots of board games to help pass an evening. The challenge is firstly to find a game with all its pieces, and then try to keep the board on the table whilst playing. Scrabble is a favourite because double word points are given for Antarctic terminology such as ablation, sastrugi, and spindrift (which is allowed as one word)
In addition to this, there is also a TV room, (the green room), with video and DVD players and a drop down screen. On the walls are cabinets with lots of films to choose from. It's like being in a little cinema, and when there is a film showing, it is good that people can drift in and out as they please. Everyone on the ship is friendly, chatty and sociable, but there are a few characters amongst them.
