Vicky brings a wealth of experience from her work as a guide and naturalist in the polar regions. Her love for the sea and adventure began years ago when she first encountered Europa at Tall Ships events. Vicky's journey to the ship was fueled by her encounters with the crew during her time working in Antarctica.
What inspired you to join the crew of Bark EUROPA?
I'd seen Europa at Tall Ships events in Europe and have always wanted to sail on board. In 2019/20, I got a job at Port Lockroy, the Penguin Post Office, in Antarctica, and welcomed the crew of Europa to our island to show them the historic site and help them send postcards home. In return, my team was able to come on board to give the voyage crew a talk on history, have a great breakfast, and (what we were most excited about) climb the mast for a view of our Antarctic island home. I returned to the polar regions, this time working in the South Georgia Museum in Grytviken, where I met Captain Janke. It was a busy day, as Europa visited on the same day that the Endurance 22 expedition arrived in South Georgia to visit Shackleton's Grave after discovering the shipwreck.
What do you do when you are not on the ship?
I work several months of the year as a guide/naturalist on small expedition cruise ships in the polar regions, both around Antarctica and in the Arctic. I get to share my love of polar wildlife and exploration history with a different audience. And in between, I also manage to fit in a month or so working as a deckhand/guide on a Tall Ship sailing around the west coast of Scotland, one of my favourite places in the world. When not at work, I'm usually hiking and camping in the mountains of Scotland or spending time at the coast.
Could you tell us about a unique destination you've visited on board EUROPA and what made it special?
On my last trip with Europa, we set a new record for her furthest south latitude, sailing by an area of the Antarctic Peninsula called Takaki Promontory on the north side of Leroux Bay on the most beautiful blue-sky day. We cruised by vast icebergs calved from a huge tidewater glacier flowing down the mountains on the east side of the bay, saw crabeater seals lounging on ice floes, watched humpback whales slumbering amongst the crystal brash ice, and others actively lunge feeding together, bursting through the surface of the sea. We reluctantly turned northwards again and sailed into a beautiful evening, with a long, slow sunset of rose pink icebergs against lemonade skies, looking out for a green flash. This area isn't usually visited by other ships, which made it an extra special experience just for us.
What's the most memorable moment you've experienced while sailing on Bark EUROPA?
I think going aloft at night in the middle of the Drake Passage, edging out on the yard to stow the sails in darkness as the winds were picking up, feeling the roll of the ship magnified by height above the deck and the icy pinch of the Antarctic air on my fingers, is a memory that will stay with me for a long time.
What is the most important lesson you've learned from your experiences on Bark EUROPA?
Firstly, the importance of teamwork. Nothing happens on the ship without several people working together to make the effort needed, and it's a great feeling to see the voyage crew come together through the voyage to make things happen. And secondly, the importance of doing nothing when you don't have to. To take the opportunity to be still, physically and mentally, to just watch and feel, especially in Antarctica where the surroundings are so vast and awesome.