This is an exclusive trip with a maximum of 8 participants (By application only)
Antarctica is the most remote destination on the planet with an abundance of wildlife, gigantic icebergs the size of cities and majestic mountain ranges. During January/February, it’s the migrating whale season and there’s often sightings of orca, humpback, minke, and southern right whales. You’ll also see thousands of penguins huddling together like a scene from Happy Feet and leopard seals playing joyfully in the rich Southern Ocean. The Antarctic is a photographers paradise.
Date: 3rd to 30th March 2025
Duration: 28 days
Start and finish: Puerto Williams, Chile
Costs: $29,900 USD (all inclusive)
Deposit: $2,500 USD (Non refundable)
Activities: Wildlife, landscape, zodiac cruising, underwater photography and snorkeling.
Note: If you are intending on snorkeling you will need to bring your own Drysuit and polar snorkeling equipment. We recommend you have cold water diving/snorkeling experience before entering the water in the polar regions.
Prerequisite: As this is an expedition ship, you will be exposed to the harsh elements of the southern ocean and experience on small vessels in open oceans is recommended. This is a working yacht so there will be periods where you are involved in the day to day support for the expedition crew sailing the yacht (regular 3 hour watch during the crossings). A good level of fitness is required when part of an expedition yacht.
Download Application Questionnaire
Word Doc version: here.
PDF version here
Included:
- Comprehensive pre-departure information
- All meals and drinks onboard during the voyage
- Guiding services from our trip leader and expedition experts
- Exploring the landscape surrounded by icebergs and an abundance of wildlife
- Step ashore in Antarctica, the last great wilderness
- All shore excursions and Zodiac (inflatable boat) cruises
- Port taxes and charges
- All entry fees to historic landings sites
- Transport to and from port to yacht
Exclusions:
- International or domestic flights to/from yacht/port
- Airport transfers
- Airport arrival or departure taxes
- Visa, passport, and vaccination charges
- Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges
- Hotels and meals not included in the itinerary
If you are interested in joining this special expedition then contact us directly to apply to be a part of this unique experience.
The Vessel
The bare aluminum hull and deck structure is reinforced to withstand navigation in brash ice without deformation.
The schooner sail plan provides manageable sail handling in high winds and rough seas; and also redundancy, as the two mainsails are of equal size – the aft sail will fit on the forward mast.
A robust fixed keel with a solid aluminium machined centerboard allows for safe navigation in shoal waters.
Twin engines, with well protected propellers.
A workshop forward of the accommodation means running repairs can be made at sea. Hawser reels on in the transom and another on the foredeck can be used for shore anchors.
The bamboo interior joinery and furniture is comfortable yet hard-wearing and easy to maintain. Able to sleep 12, the yacht is designed for both private use and commercial chartering.
A sturdy gantry frame on the transom will carry an expedition RIB (a second RIB is stowed on deck) as well as the sat-nav antennae so in case of damage to the Axxon carbon masts, the yacht will not lose navigation and satellite communication capability. It also doubles as mainsail traveler track foundation.
A diesel stove in the spacious aft salon/dinette/galley provides efficient, reliable and comfortable heating to combat freezing temperatures. Radiators throughout the accommodations. During construction special attention was devoted to the insulation to combat the cold and condensation.
Life onboard
Yacht life is not for everyone, but being part of a small group adventure on an expedition vessel to Antarctica involves a sense of adventure, patience and team work. This journey can be one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences. we encourage all applicants to prepare for small spaces, limited resources (i.e showers every few days or so, tight sleeping quarters, early morning watches etc.). The comradery and the shared experience is something that will make your life onboard enjoyable, so we encourage you to take it all in and enjoy being in one of the last remote places on the planet.
The journey (sample only, subject to regular changes based on weather)
Trip Leader – Brett Lobwein
Antarctic Trip leader, Underwater, wildlife, nature photographer
Brett Lobwein is a passionate and environmentally minded photographer based in Sydney. He grew up on the waterways of the Port Hacking and his love of scuba diving took shape in the early 2000s while working in a local dive shop.
Brett has photographed Silky Sharks in Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen, Penguins in Antarctica, Polar Bears in the Arctic, Orcas in Norway and Seals in Narooma. Brett is always sure to represent marine life in their natural element, without demonising or sensationalising an animal to gain attention to an image for the wrong reasons.He has extensive experience in the Polar regions and it is safe to say he is “addicted to ice”.
Aligned with his love for the ocean and its inhabitants, Brett is also a strong advocate of protecting our oceans and environment by raising awareness around excessive use and demand for single-use plastics.
Brett is a proud Sony Digital Imaging Advocate, Ambassador for Isotta Underwater Housings, Member of the Explorers Club, Member of the Ocean Artist Society, and former associate/resident photographer at Ocean Geographic. Brett also is the owner of UW Images a distributor of underwater photography equipment.
His images have won numerous international photography awards and have been published worldwide.
