Sunday (26-May-2013) — At Sea

Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 30: At Sea.

The Netherlands Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter (G-BIMU, Stac Pollaidh) hovered off the Semester at Sea MV Explorer as we traveled along the coast of Netherlands on our way to Oslo, Norway. The helicopter did an amazing job of staying stationary right next to our ship. They wanted to do a drill, but had to leave as they were running low on fuel. I liked the expression on the pilot and co-pilots faces.

Netherlands Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter (G-BIMU, Stac Pollaidh) Hovering Near the Semester at Sea M/V Explorer in the North Sea. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/14, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Netherlands Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter (G-BIMU, Stac Pollaidh) Hovering Near the Semester at Sea M/V Explorer in the North Sea. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/14, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Netherlands Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter (G-BIMU, Stac Pollaidh) Hovering Near the Semester at Sea M/V Explorer in the North Sea. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/13, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Netherlands Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter (G-BIMU, Stac Pollaidh) Hovering Near the Semester at Sea M/V Explorer in the North Sea. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/13, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)