Contact
Postal address:
Rederij Bark EUROPA
P.O. Box 23183
NL-3001 KD Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Email: info@barkeuropa.com
Tel.:
Fax: +31 10-281 0991
Antarctica Ushuaia Cape Town
CAPE TO CAPE: SAILING FROM ANTARCTICA TO SOUTH AFRICA
A true expedition exploring the Weddel Sea and ,if weather permits, a visit of Tristan da Cunha, the most remote island of the world.
All prices subject to change. * The price includes all meals on board, tea and coffee. The price is excluding the landing fee for South-Georgia of GBP 158,- ,the drinks in the bar, the transfers to and from the ship and the travel/cancellation insurance. Please order your detailed voyage description here. Transfer. We can help arrange the transfer. You can of course also make your own travel arrangements. Please make sure you arrive on time. The ship is not able to wait if you are too late. |
||||||||||||||
|
|
USHUAIA - ANTARCTICA - SOUTH GEORGIA - TRISTAN DA CUNHA - CAPE TOWN
This winter the 56-meter long bark EUROPA sails from Antarctic to Southern Atlantic waters again. The last trip of this season starts in Ushuaia (Argentina) and finishes in Cape Town (South Africa). During this 52-day voyage we will visit a number of remarkable areas like the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea with her many icebergs. After our visit to Antarctica we will sail towards the sub-Antarctic island South Georgia with its spectacular scenery and outstanding wildlife. Furthermore we plan to visit the remotest inhabited island of the world: Tristan da Cunha. Here, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, lives a small community on top of an active volcano. Our voyage ends in the South African capital Cape Town.
This voyage is an adventure for all nature and sailing lovers. The places where we land offer aremarkable wildlife with unique species, sometimes in surprising quantities. Our voyage offers all nature lovers a special opportunity to meet with some of the most unspoiled environment of this world.
The Southern Atlantic Ocean is infamous for its roughness, hence the names: “Roaring Forties”, “Furious Fifties” and “Screaming Sixties” corresponding with the degrees of latitude. Sailing from island to island may take around 10 days and you will be able to experience all the aspects of seaman’s life, including watch keeping, climbing the masts and classic navigation.
The expedition will start from Ushuaia, the most southern city of the world. From the Beagle Channel we set sail for the Drake Passage, infamous among sailors worldwide. After passing the Antarctic convergence zone, the ship sails between the icebergs to the South Shetland Islands. We cast anchor near two islands, one of which is the spectacular Deception Island, an active imploded volcano (caldera). We sail through Neptune’s Bellows into the caldera and walk on the steaming black beaches.
We then sail towards the Antarctic Peninsula and on to the Weddell Sea. The Weddell Sea is covered with icebergs and is bordered at the south by the large Larsen and Ronne Ice Shelf, where large icebergs break away. Only very few people visit the Weddell Sea and we will stay in this area for a couple of days.
Steep glaciers, walls of ice with magical shapes and surreal colours will surround the EUROPA with floating growlers on which Leopard Seals rest . Visitors on shore will often be welcomed by thousands of penguins. On earlier voyages many Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and even Orcas (Killer Whales), came swimming alongside the ship full of curiosity.
From the Weddell Sea we set sail for South Georgia. The predominant westerly winds guarantee good sailing. After a week the sub Antarctic island South Georgia comes into sight. The helm grass on the coast of South Georgia provides ideal shelter for Fur Seals and Elephant Seals. We will anchor here for a week in different bays surrounded by mountains, glaciers, beaches and steep cliffs, inhabited by albatrosses and thousands of penguins, including the King Penguin. We’ll find the remains of a former whaling station at Grytviken and see the grave of Shackleton, one of the most heroic pole travellers. It is an old tradition to drink a glass of whisky near his grave.
After leaving South Georgia we head out to open sea again for 10 days, sailing to Tristan da Cunha. Time for some classic sailing on board of this beautiful ship. In sailing the EUROPA, teamwork is the keyword. On board you learn the names of the hundreds of different lines and 30 sails. Everybody will experience the voyage differently; The horizon will sail with the ship day after day, Wandering Albatrosses, dolphins who play in the bow wave, a waxing and waning moon, etcetera.
After ten days the tiny islands of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago in the middle of the southern Atlantic Ocean come into sight. We will anchor here for a few days. Let’s hope that the swell isn’t big enough to prevent a safe landing. Three hundred people live on this most isolated spot in the world. They share the 11 square kilometres wide island with huge amounts of sea birds. The Grey-headed and Yellow-nosed Albatross are commonly seen. But Rockhopper Penguins breed here too.
We will set sail for the final part of the expedition towards Cape Town. Nice sailing again with the westerly blowing circumpolar winds from behind. Ten days later we arrive in Cape Town where seals are bathing in the sunshine or laying on the cays. It is time to say goodbye to the EUROPA and to life on board. It will be difficult to get used to the ‘normal’ life again.
