News from the Southern Ocean
FROM THE BLOG
Latest News
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Starlink and Major Tom
Read more: Starlink and Major TomOffline at the end of the world ? That’s what we thought before we started our journey, that was part of the idea. To be travelling at the end of … Read more “Starlink and Major Tom”
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Goodbye Falklands
Read more: Goodbye FalklandsFarewell After almost ten days here at the Falkland Islands, it is now time to head home. Our Sailing SOUTH 2024 expedition comes to an end here. And we as … Read more “Goodbye Falklands”
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Falkland Islands’ Mountains
Read more: Falkland Islands’ MountainsHiking and History We had a wonderful place to stay with David in the former boathouse right on the harbour with a view of the water, even though we first … Read more “Falkland Islands’ Mountains”
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Falkland Islands’ penguins
Read more: Falkland Islands’ penguinsA paradise for penguin fans Five different species of penguins live in the Falklands: Magellanic penguins, gentoo penguins, rockhopper penguins, macaroni penguins and king penguins. We were lucky enough to … Read more “Falkland Islands’ penguins”
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Falkland Islands’ Coastline
Read more: Falkland Islands’ CoastlineParadise Island with dream beaches We have discovered wild and beautiful beaches. Sometimes rocky and rugged around the lighthouse at Cape Pembroke, sometimes paradisiacal with a white sandy beach, turquoise … Read more “Falkland Islands’ Coastline”
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Falkland Islands
Read more: Falkland IslandsWhat a surprise! Don’t have any expectations and you won’t be disappointed. There’s a saying that goes something like this. Put a little more optimistically, it could also mean: Have … Read more “Falkland Islands”
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Farewell
Read more: FarewellThe day after This morning is different. And anything but good. I’m sitting here in the old Boathouse, our accommodation, with todays first coffee in my hand, looking out of … Read more “Farewell”
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Port Stanley – Anchorage SH4
Read more: Port Stanley – Anchorage SH4Sailing at last! What a marvellous last day of sailing! We couldn’t have had it any better. Especially after the last few days, when the wind kept letting us down … Read more “Port Stanley – Anchorage SH4”
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Night thoughts
Read more: Night thoughtsOnly 100 miles to go It’s two o’clock in the morning. I’m sitting outside on deck, having just taken over the night watch from Unda for the next four hours. … Read more “Night thoughts”
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Sunrise at Lake Drake
Read more: Sunrise at Lake DrakeNeptune and Aiolos, the gods of the sea and the winds, seem to be asleep, as is our crew. It’s 6 o’clock in the morning and I’m sitting on the … Read more “Sunrise at Lake Drake”
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Elephant Island
Read more: Elephant IslandAs I write these lines, Elephant Island is already moving away in the wake of the Selma. Today, at around five o’clock in the morning, our destination emerged dimly from … Read more “Elephant Island”
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Course Elephant Island
Read more: Course Elephant IslandTwo days ago, on Sunday, we weighed anchor at four in the morning, left Deception Island and set course 060 for Elephant Island. There are a good 200 nautical miles … Read more “Course Elephant Island”
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Deception Island
Read more: Deception IslandThe next morning we weigh anchor at five o’clock in the morning and set course for the South Shetlands. It’s about 100 miles to Deception Island. We have zero wind, … Read more “Deception Island”
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Enterprise Island Governoren
Read more: Enterprise Island GovernorenIt is already afternoon when we reach Enterprise Island. It is gray and cloudy. A light drizzle falls from the low-hanging clouds. We drop anchor near a bay surrounded by … Read more “Enterprise Island Governoren”
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Port Lockroy
Read more: Port LockroyHot Spots On the way north from Vernadsky Station, we pass the north-west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, the part most frequently visited by Antarctic tourists. Easily accessible, mostly ice-free … Read more “Port Lockroy”
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Moved
Read more: MovedMy new home I have moved! The move from my 3-room apartment to a 7-room shared flat with six double cabins, a bathroom, separate toilet, kitchen and lounge, as well … Read more “Moved”
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Vernadsky Station II
Read more: Vernadsky Station IIOutside, the wind hisses around the masts of the Selma and the rain beats on the roof of the wheelhouse – it’s just plain bad weather. We’ve just managed to … Read more “Vernadsky Station II”
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A new week begins
Read more: A new week beginsMonday morning at half past three… I’m getting dressed for the watch when I hear the engine being switched off. Gerhard, Alan and Piotr, our skipper, come down to the … Read more “A new week begins”
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Nightlife
Read more: NightlifeWhat do you actually do at night? We have often been asked this question. The answer is the same as to almost all questions that arise here on board and … Read more “Nightlife”
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On the Glacier
Read more: On the GlacierWe’ve been on the road for almost a month now. Arrived far to the south. And ready for our planned tour ashore. Great anticipation for the five-member Mountaineering Team, consisting … Read more “On the Glacier”
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Adelaide Island – Shore excursion
Read more: Adelaide Island – Shore excursionOn March 1st we departed early for the southern end of Adelaide Island and the Chilean Base. This base has not been used since the winter of 2014-15. We had … Read more “Adelaide Island – Shore excursion”
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Further South
Read more: Further SouthWe set off from Vernadsky two days ago. The break did us good, but now we want to continue. For most Antarctic travelers, the southernmost point is reached at the … Read more “Further South”
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Kayaking
Read more: KayakingWe had already set up the kayaks three days ago. Pjotr had been inspired by SY Podorange, where we can moor them well on deck. The dinghy has made a … Read more “Kayaking”
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Vernadsky Station I
Read more: Vernadsky Station IBefore you can see Vernadsky, the Ukrainian station, you can smell it. At least the day before yesterday afternoon, when we arrived, the wind carried the smell of the resident … Read more “Vernadsky Station I”
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Westside Stories— Lemaire Channel
Read more: Westside Stories— Lemaire ChannelWe leave the incredibly beautiful but restless anchorage early in the morning. Just around the corner, the spectacular entrance to the Lemaire Channel awaits us. This six-kilometre-long strait between the … Read more “Westside Stories— Lemaire Channel”
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Westside Stories — Cape Renard
Read more: Westside Stories — Cape RenardWe set off the next morning, wanting to continue our journey south. We quickly leave the Argentinean station Almirante Braun in our wake. It’s still gray and cloudy, but the … Read more “Westside Stories — Cape Renard”
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Westside Stories — Course south
Read more: Westside Stories — Course southWe set course south. We leave Tower Island and Trinity Island to starboard. The uncomfortable weather and numerous icebergs remain our companions. Spotlights are installed on the bow for the … Read more “Westside Stories — Course south”
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Westside Stories — Astrolabe Island and Bransfield Strait
Read more: Westside Stories — Astrolabe Island and Bransfield StraitWe have now been traveling on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula for three days. And – compared to the east side – in a different world. Both the … Read more “Westside Stories — Astrolabe Island…
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Good bye Weddell Sea
Read more: Good bye Weddell SeaWe made it, the circumnavigation of James Ross Island! And not just somehow, but it was a feast! We saw so much wildlife, island scenery, countless natural ice sculptures, history … Read more “Good bye Weddell Sea”
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Changing the side
Read more: Changing the sideAt last! We are sailing again! After yesterday’s 40 knots of wind directly on the nose and an initially very restless night at anchor in Hope Bay in Antarctic Sound, … Read more “Changing the side”
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Animal encounters
Read more: Animal encountersWe were blessed with numerous animal encounters that will remain unforgettable. The albatrosses and petrels of the Drake Passage were followed by the penguins. These also deserve a chapter of … Read more “Animal encounters”
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Circumnavigation
Read more: CircumnavigationAs the route to the east seemed to be blocked by ice, we decided to try to make our way further south on the west side of James Ross Island. … Read more “Circumnavigation”
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Weddell Sea
Read more: Weddell SeaOur time in the Weddell Sea was as unexpected as it was fantastic. Originally not planned at all (except perhaps to point the bow into the Antarctic Sound), this change … Read more “Weddell Sea”
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What a perfect day
Read more: What a perfect dayIt’s 3 o’clock in the morning. I’m standing alone outside on deck. The night envelops me, I can dimly make out the outline of the landscape, very slightly gray, barely … Read more “What a perfect day”
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Circumnavigation
Read more: Circumnavigation“This is no holiday, this is an expedition!” Often with a wink, sometimes as a joke and occasionally simply surrendering to life on deck with everything that goes with it, … Read more “Circumnavigation”
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Early morning pink
Read more: Early morning pinkMy 0340 alarm sounds. I turn it off and think for moment that I want to stay snuggled deep in my sleeping bag for another hour. I get up, grab … Read more “Early morning pink”
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Lazy day
Read more: Lazy dayWhat a wonderful moment: I’m sitting on deck in the sun, wrapped up warm because it’s really cold. The Selma’s wheelhouse provides a little shade from the wind. The wind … Read more “Lazy day”
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Drift
Read more: DriftIt’s quiet, with the occasional ripple of a small wave. I can only hear the captain snoring softly in his bunk in the wheelhouse. I missed the “ice thriller” at … Read more “Drift”
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Summit happiness
Read more: Summit happinessBeak island The idea was to get our legs moving, explore Beak Island and combine a love of hiking with a spirit of discovery. So we set off to explore … Read more “Summit happiness”
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Drake II
Read more: Drake IITeam spirit I love life on board with this crew! The watch system works really well and everyone is reliable at their post, always keeping an eye on the others. … Read more “Drake II”
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Changing plans
Read more: Changing plansPlans are one of those things. Especially down here, deep in the south. Here, man is just a tiny little cog in the infinitely larger course of nature. You have … Read more “Changing plans”
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Drake the Lake and Drake the Shake
Read more: Drake the Lake and Drake the ShakeWe’ve made it! After four days and nights, the Drake Passage lies behind us, a good 530 nautical miles in our wake. This notorious ocean passage between the Pacific and … Read more “Drake the Lake and Drake…
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Drake I
Read more: Drake IWednesday, February 07, Morning Cape Horn and the Drake Passage. I had imagined it to be wild and rough with meter-high waves and heroic sailing. After all, the crossing from … Read more “Drake I”
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Cast off
Read more: Cast offAnd then the time has come: on Monday, February 5, at around 7 p.m., we cast off the lines for good and leave Puerto Williams with Antarctica as our destination. … Read more “Cast off”
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Puerto Williams, Isla Navarino
Read more: Puerto Williams, Isla NavarinoAs the weather forecast for the Drake Passage predicts a full-blown storm, we have two days in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. We are moored at a mooring buoy, well … Read more “Puerto Williams, Isla Navarino”
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Departure
Read more: DepartureBefore we can really set off, there are still a few things on the agenda: a last major shopping trip, re-stowing the same and the last fresh vegetables delivered. But … Read more “Departure”
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Preparations
Read more: PreparationsWe’ve been on the Beagle Channel for almost a week now, all the team members have gradually arrived in Ushuaia and we’ve been complete since Tuesday. What luck and how … Read more “Preparations”
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What a wonderful day
Read more: What a wonderful dayThere are those magical days that are so perfect that you sometimes have to pinch yourself to check that you’re not dreaming. One such day for me was our first … Read more “What a wonderful day”
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Arrived
Read more: ArrivedHere at last! Arrived in Tierra del Fuego. After a seemingly never-ending journey.. Ushuaia The southernmost city in the world welcomes Gerhard and me (we met in Buenos Aires and … Read more “Arrived”
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Inbetween
Read more: InbetweenSo now I’m actually on the way. Started yesterday with countless good wishes, small practical gifts or talismans for the journey and said goodbye to my family and friends waving … Read more “Inbetween”
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Time to start packing
Read more: Time to start packingHappy New Year 2024! The year – among hopefully many other joyful things and events – of our Sailing SOUTH 2024 expedition.Time is running out – time to get the … Read more “Time to start packing”
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Bad News: Avian Influenza (HPAI) in South Georgia
Read more: Bad News: Avian Influenza (HPAI) in South GeorgiaBad news from the other side of the world Bad news from the other side of the world: bird flu (avian influenza) has unfortunately also reached the remote regions of … Read more “Bad News: Avian Influenza (HPAI)…
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Permit No 1
Read more: Permit No 1Next important Step Hooray!We have received the first of many needed authorisations: the permit from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which allows us to sail into the Antarctic waters … Read more “Permit No 1”
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Crew Meet-Up
Read more: Crew Meet-UpCrew meeting – not only virtual Crew meeting last week in Berlin. The first time we met as a full team in real life (and not just online). Karen from … Read more “Crew Meet-Up”
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Planning Process
Read more: Planning ProcessGood news! The Sailing SOUTH team is complete! Further planning has begun. First of all, we are mentally travelling on the map … We consider route planning, possible destinations and … Read more “Planning Process”
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An important step
Read more: An important stepWe did it! The contract has been signed and further planning can begin. Of course we celebrated that with a Shackleton. There are still three places left – apply for … Read more “An important step”
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Wanted II
Read more: Wanted IISuccessful Restart “Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all.” Sir Ernest Shackleton After our originally planned skipper unexpectedly dropped out at the end of August, we were looking for … Read more “Wanted II”
