Some of the world’s most remote
and challenging destinations are
beginning to give up their secrets to
savvy superyacht owners, who take
the time and the effort to mount expeditions
there. With the growing capabilities of explorer
yachts, there are now few places on the globe to
which you can’t venture – from the Ross Sea to
the Northwest Passage.
And yet it is the challenge posed by mankind
itself that is the biggest limiting factor in
exploration terms. Conflict zones, poor security
and even nuclear testing put some places out of
reach. Many of these cruising grounds require
specialist knowledge from guides or pilots, as
well as local contacts to help obtain permits.
That’s why most owners turn to an experienced
expedition company to do the legwork for
them. The costs can extend into the millions
but, as Nick Davies of Cookson Adventures
points out, that is usually small beer compared
to the value of the yacht. “People want to invest
in experiences, not just things,” he says. “The
key to all these is planning, planning, planningand building contingencies. You don’t want to
decide to go in a gung-ho way.”
Extra security may be appropriate around the
Horn of Africa, for instance, but it’s not just a
case of shipping more muscle. Yachts are always
advised to follow best management practices
(BMP). Medical contingencies need to be
carefully considered in case someone does fall
ill, and even the basics such as provisioning can
pose a challenge. Parts of Papua New Guinea,
for instance, are two days from a decent
hospital, even with a chopper.N
W Sboatinternational.com
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