PELAGIC AUSTRALIS IN SOUTH GEORGIA - NOVEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER 2009

For our cruise to the Island of South Georgia the aim is to visit several places of interest, but spending enough time at each one to fully appreciate what the sites have to offer in a relaxed manner. Because of the vagaries of the weather in this rugged environment, the schedule outlined below is what may be possible, but will almost certainly not be adhered to! This is an expedition in the true sense of the word whereby we take things as they come and adapt to the circumstances. We are planning expedition from November to December. The first has an emphasis on ski randonee (ski mountaineering)and an attempt on the Shackleton traverse and the second will concentrate on the whaling heritage and wildlife of the island. See below for our 28 day itinerary covering the wildlife trip (also fully applicable to the earlier ski trip) which gives an idea of what can be done. To find out more about the destination generally see charter options link above.

Note: Because this is a true mountain wilderness, we are only accepting expert skiers and climbers for ski mountaineering and/or the Shackleton Traverse who are fully capable of safe operations (with respect to crevasse and avalanche risk) including the ability to self rescue. In the event of a group of competent amateurs applying as a team, we would be happy to organize a guiding service, the cost of which would be borne by the client group. Also be aware that for any camping ashore, the South Georgia Government requires the group to apply for an Expedition Permit, the cost of which is currently 1000 GBP. This cost must also be borne by the expedition group.

DATES
28 days on board.

Trip 2 Wildlife/Historical - 14 Nov - 12 Dec 2009


LOGISTICS

This cruise will begin and end in Stanley in the Falklands Islands. The Falkland Islands (direct your travel agent to Mount Pleasant Airport) is reached via Santiago and Punta Arenas on a once per week basis every Saturday with Lan Chile. Therefore these cruises can only be in multiples of seven days.

There is also a flight more or less once weekly from Brize Norton in the UK on the RAF flight now operated by a sub contracting airlines. This is an expensive, but time saving alternative. However, the flights can be cancelled or delayed without notice due to military priority.

Guests would board the vessel immediately on arrival and (weather permitting) the next day we would sail for South Georgia. Considering the traverse time there and back, 18 days are envisaged on the island for shore landings. It is the intention to be back in Stanley no later than the night before the Saturday flight out on Day 28 of the schedule.

COST

12000 EUROS per person which is all inclusive of food and drink once on board. A maximum of eight guests is envisaged.

This cost includes the use of Musto HPX sailing four weather gear, all personal safety equipment for sailing (lifejacket, harness) and the use of the Inmarsat communications equipment and the 100 GBP passenger landing fee. Full details, obligations on both sides and payment terms are included in the Charter Agreement.

 

Pelagic Australis at anchor rides out a 70 knot gust in Ocean Harbour S. Georgia. 
Photo: Northanger Collection 2005-Keri Pashuk 

NOTE: Due to the fragile nature of the fauna and flora on the island and the fact that tourist impact for some areas is under study and analysis, we cannot guarantee that all wildlife sites can be visited, as government reserves the right to close off any area deemed to be under threat at short notice.

PROPOSED ITINERARY

DAY 1

The charter guests arrive at Mount Pleasant Airport and take a 40 minute bus ride to Stanley to meet Pelagic Australis. They move on board immediately. The afternoon is spent stowing personal gear, familiarizing the team with the vessel and having ‘live a board’ and safety briefings.

DAY 2 - 4

Weather permitting, the vessel would leave Stanley bound for the northwest corner of the island 750 miles away. In most cases this would be a fast downwind passage in the prevailing westerly winds. Passage time would be roughly three to three and a half days.

Landfall South Georgia

DAY 5 -7

Landfall will be on the Willis Islands and we would continue with a passage through Bird Sound between Bird Island and mainland and anchor at Elsehul Bay. Here we would have a thorough briefing of the guidelines to follow with respect to the wildlife and take our first walk ashore. Weather permitting we would devote 2 days of possible waiting time at Elsehul in order to back track around the northwest corner of the island and enter King Haakon Bay where Shackleton and his men ran ashore. If conditions were calm, a night would be spent near Peggoty Bluff where his trek across the island began.

Start point for Shackleton traverse Peggoty Bluff

DAY 8 - 9

Leaving King Haakon we would sail back to the northeast coast through Bird Sound and make for Rosita Harbour in the Bay of Isles. Weather permitting, we would land on Prion Island in the Bay of Isles to concentrate a half day (this is the maximum allowance per visit according to the government’s management plan for this sensitive area) with Great Wandering Albatross.

Young Albatross Prion Island

This island has one of the highest concentrations of nesting Great Wanderers in the world. We would then sail overnight to King Edward Point which is the administrative base for the island.

DAY 10 - 11

Two days would be spent in King Edward Point which is a short walk from Grytviken, the premier shore based whaling facility on South Georgia which was abandoned in the 60’s. Visiting the whaling station which has now been incorporated into the South Georgia Museum is a full day. Long walks behind the station including a possible overland trek to Maiviken Bay are possibilities.

 
Grytviken Museum

DAY 12 - 13

Sailing to the snout of the Nordenskjold Glacier in Cumberland Bay East is a must. Continually discharging ice into the bay, this is the largest of the glaciers on South Georgia. Later, an afternoon run down the coast brings us to Cobblers Cove, a natural harbour with a dramatic entrance. Gentoo Penguins are nesting on the slopes above the cove, while Macaroni Penguins can be found up over a pass back to the north (an hour walk). We would spend the night at Cobblers Cove. This is a good storm anchorage, so it would be used as a fall back in case of heavy weather while further down the coast.

DAY 14

Weather and surf conditions permitting, we would attempt the beach landing at Prince Andrew Bay a few hours steaming from Cobblers Cove. Behind the beach is the largest colony of King Penguins on the Island. In order reach the main part of the colony we would have to trek to the snout of a glacier in order to cross the river flowing from it down to the sea. It is a spectacular wildlife venue on a fine day.
 

DAY 15

Further south along the coast lies Gold Harbour which is one of the most scenic anchorages on the island. Again the landing is on an open shoreline and weather dependent and if successful we would spend the day on the beaches.

DAYS 16 – 17
Near the southern tip of the island Cooper Bay affords a rich variety of wildlife, including Fur Seals (in less concentrations and thereby the colonies more easily accessed) and many harems of Elephant Seals with the competing bulls (October cruise only). Two days in the area are required to fully explore the bay. If need be, the nights would be spent nearby in a safer anchorage at Larsen Harbour, a dramatic fjord with a glacier at its head.

DAYS 18 – 19 - 20

Most likely lost due to adverse weather, so we would in effect be spending more time in either Cobblers Cove, Larsen Harbour, Rosita Harbour or King Edward Point, all with access to the shore in bad weather.


DAYS 21 - 22

About this time we would need to be on standby for the return to Stanley. By Day 22, if there was a favorable weather window (considering the return is against the prevailing wind) we would be obliged to take the opportunity, in order to make sure that we arrive on time for the guests to make the plane on the Saturday, with at least a day to spare.

DAYS 23 – 28

Passage back to Stanley, arriving no later than the night of DAY 28.

DAY 29

Flight from Mount Pleasant Airport back to Punta Arenas with a direct connection to Santiago.

MORE PHOTOS

The following slide shows open in pop ups and you will need flash player installed to view them.

	Click image  to view a slide show of the Shackleton traverse in Nov 2006 showing ski randonne across S. georgia terrain
	Click image  to view a slide show of the wildlife expedition in Oct 2007

EQUIPMENT LIST

Equipment List 3    -   For expedition cruises to Antarctica, South Georgia, Spitzbergen, Greenland, Iceland and Labrador.