http://www.boatinternational.com | April 2016PHOTOGRAPHS: REX/SHUTTERSTOCK; ALAMY
PORT LOCKROY
No one should leave the Antarctic without getting their
passport stamped at this historic outpost on the tiny
island of Goudier. This former British Second World
War base and scientific research centre closed in
1962 and now operates as a museum and post office,
handling 70,000 letters a year sent by visitors.
64°49.12S 63°29.36WSkipper’s
secrets
Winston Joyce-Clarke, captain
of 71.4 metre expedition yacht
Enigma XK, reveals how to get
the most out of AntarcticaDALLMANN BAY
Anchor at Melchior Harbour to see humpback whales as they
funnel through to the Gerlache Strait. Guests can jump into
the Zodiac and view the whales in the deep water bays,
where they are often too preoccupied by feeding to notice
any human interlopers. Hearing a humpback blow feels like
the ultimate connection with nature. 64° 19.6S 63° 00.99WASTROLABE
Perfect for Zodiac cruising, with plenty
of small coves and water-level wildlife, this
island has Weddell seals, Adélie and
chinstrap penguins and a few leopard seals.
The most interesting landing point is
at Dragon’s Teeth rocks, at the northern
end of the island. 63° 32.2S 59° 48.5WELEPHANT ISLAND
Named after its once plentiful elephant
seals, this rugged island was home to polar
explorer Ernest Shackleton’s men for four
months in 1916 after their ship sank. Owing
to the density of fur seals and chinstrap
penguins crowding the rocks, it is best
explored with small numbers – I’d suggest
no more than 20 guests – and anchor
at Point Wild. 61° 05.8S 54° 52.28WDECEPTION ISLAND
It’s not often that one sails through
a cliff-lined entrance into a volcanic basin.
The incredible Adélie penguin colony at Bailey
Head resembles a vast computer-generated
city, with thousands of birds covering an
entire valley. Hiking the volcanic ash hills feels
akin to trekking on Mars, with its barren rock
and craters. 62° 57.85S 60° 29.7WGOURDIN
Hike to the top of this mountainous
island, at the northern tip of the
Antarctic Peninsula, for a great view of
the Antarctic Sound. It’s a haven for
Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins- and there’s sure to be a leopard seal
nearby. 63° 11.9S 57° 17.3W
Voyage
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