Antarctic Explorers and the Mainland of Antarctica

Antarctic Sea - seals and man wading ashore from rubber dinghy with glacier in background

Antarctic Explorers and the Mainland of Antarctica

Polar Explorers - Authentic Experience

If reading the exploits of Shackleton’s or Captain Scott have lured you to the highest, coldest and driest continent in the world, then you can begin to appreciate what they had to endure on similar sailing ships in an extreme environment, the dangers that they faced and why they were so magically drawn to the place. Europa has a good library of books in many languages about other polar explorers like de Gerlache and the Australian explorer Mawson. You will meet modern day scientists if you visit any of the bases. The Ukrainian research station Vernadsky is a regular stop and the oldest surviving British Station at Port Lockroy looks forward to the ships visit. It is run by a historic trust to preserve the buildings as they were in 1940’s. Three volunteers maintain the site over the summer with no heating and primitive living conditions. You can post letters home from Antarctica here with special stamps. Having sailed the ship and become used to working out on deck in the elements sets you apart from the duvet jacket cocooned tourists that arrive by cruise ship. There will be talks and slide shows on the wildlife, polar explorers and all range of nautical topics. Europa also records the weather for the Dutch Meteorological Office so the weather faxes you receive back are based on your readings !

The Antarctic Mainland – Mountains & Glaciers

Around the mainland peninsula Bark Europa sails in and out bays and deep water channels between awesome mountain scenery. The geology is an extension of the Andes mountain chain and it always surprises first time visitors to see such

Europa in the Antarctic and Debbie with Penguiins

towering mountains which seem to get higher as you go further south. Near Govuvernoren Harbour or Cuverville Island there is plenty of krill, so prime whale spotting territory. Europa guests have even seen a few sightings of the Blue Whale – the worlds biggest creature. The shipwreck of a 1916 whaler still survives and her bows provide a home for Antarctic Terns. Ashore at Cuverville are 4500 breeding pairs of Gentoo Penguins. If the zodiacs can get through the broken brash ice from five glaciers you can step onto the mainland at Nekko Harbour and look back at the ship appearing to be stuck in the ice. Ice falls thunder into the sea and sometimes a whole ice wall will fall creating a large wave. Being in the middle of this awe inspiring natural wilderness is indescribable and standing a night watch listening to the ice tinkle down the side of the hull is a very strange feeling.

How far South ?

If conditions permit and the channels are not blocked with icebergs, Europa will head for the Lemaire Channel – a narrow crack between 1000m mountains. The ship has a bow thruster so can perform quite delicate manoeuvres to slalom between bergy bits. Destinations may be the Argentine Islands and the Ukrainian base. At around 65 degrees South Europa is reaching the limit she can navigate as the pack ice gets thicker and we need a constant watch on the wind so the ice does not hem the ship into a bay or block an exit passage. On the return route Europa will try to sail a different path perhaps stopping at Petermann Island to see the Adele penguins fighting over nesting material, or Port Lockroy to look around the preserved 1944 British research base. The nearby anchorage of Dorian Bay is a good place for a stroll to admire the stunning mountain range and vast icecap stretching down to the sea. Schollaert Channel is another intense scenic experience and the Melchior Islands will have you reaching for your camera again. The open sea and routine of a watch system sailing back to Argentina may be a welcome break to absorb everything you have seen and done.

Protecting a Pristine Environment

The scale of the place is difficult to describe; Conservation of this pristine environment is taken very seriously by the 12 countries that share responsibility for the Continent under the 1959 Antarctic Treaty. In 1991 an Environmental Protocol was drawn up to introduce new regulations specifically for adventure tourism. You will find it hard to see any signs of other adventurous tourists and Bark Europa crew will work hard to ensure that the ship or the landing parties minimise the impact on the environment – from scrubbing boots before and after every landing, to briefing guest crew on how to walk amongst the penguins and fur seals. Classic Sailing hope that after your adventure you will all become ambassadors for Antarctica and help lobby Governments to ensure that this wildlife wonderland is not carved up for mineral rights, oil, fishing, whaling etc when the Atlantic Treaty runs out.