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Hump Back Whales photo by Debbie Purser whilst sailing on Europa in Antarctic Waters

Antarctic Icebergs and Wildlife

Penguins, Seals & Whales

Bark Europa is not a big ship compared with modern expedition ships with only about 3m freeboard in the middle of the ship, so when a humpback whale pops his head up to look at you they are damn close and you can feel the spray. You could be sipping a cup of coffee when a fur seal does a back flip right next to you and you may spend time trying to rescue a stunned Prion staggering around the deck after flying into the rigging at night. Being able to climb the rigging gives you a view from a different dimension. Look down on Weddle Seals resting on a slab of pack ice with shadows of the ships rigging cutting across the scene, or see whales diving under the ship to check out our barnacles. Whilst sailing at 3-8 knots you can see penguins in their natural element as they porpoise in and out the water, or killer whales as they glide effortlessly by like sleek submarines and overtake a 300 ton sailing ship at speed.

 Beach landings can be very entertaining with crowds of fur seals and penguins entering and leaving the surf around you. Europa’s wildlife guides will always brief you on what to see and how to behave around very curious animals ashore but it is still a pleasant shock when they come right up to you. (Penguins don’t read the rules).

Icebergs & Offshore Islands

Apart from the huge tabular icebergs that start to appear, you will soon see the South Shetland Islands and a very welcome first anchorage. The atmosphere is very clear so the spires and cliffs of these off lying ring of islands create photogenic silhouettes for very vivid sunsets. With katabatic winds off the mountains, and ice fall prone areas to avoid, Europa sometimes has to work hard to find the best anchorages and safe landings so no itinerary can be guaranteed. The Aitcho Islands are a favourite beach landing by the ships two zodiac inflatable boats and her ships lifeboat ‘Sloopy’. Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins share the beach with you, Skuas and Giant Petrels swoop from above, and huge elephant seals can sometimes be seen. Other off lying island anchorages are Yankee Harbour, Hannah Point on Livingstone Island. At Trinity Island stranded icebergs are aground on the seabed or wedged between the dark basalt cliffs. The fluted ice shapes and colours range from sugary crystalline surfaces to smooth caves of turquoise and Leopard Seals often lurk. Further South is Deception Island where the ship sails right into a flooded volcanic crater through a narrow gap called ‘Neptune’s Bellows’ to anchor in Whalers Bay. Ashore are the rusting relics of a major whaling station and you can bathe in the steaming waters and black shingle - heated by volcanic activity.

 Read more about the Antarctic Mainland - in the wake of the polar explorers

Bark Europa Antarctic Voyage Dates 2010-2011

Europa's Antarctic Sailing and Wldlife Expeditions attract a lot of interest amongst seasonal travellers, experienced sailors and eagle eyed sailing novices looking for real adventure. As soon as the dates are announced for the next season, places fill up very quickly.  The 2010-2011 dates were published in December 2009 but already some voyages are filling up. There are five Antarctic voyages next winter, with approximately 40 places, and a few places remaining on the last two Antarctic expeditions this winter.

Bark Europa Antarctic Voyage Dates 2010-2011

Where will you be for Christmas & New Year 2011 - Antarctica on a tall ship - dream trip ?

52 day epic on Bark Europa accross the Southern Ocean and South Atlantic to Cape Town including an Antarctica expedition, South Georgia expedition, Tristan Da Cuhna.Departs 2011.