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Destinations ..Antarctica ..South Georgia ..South Sandwich Islands ..Tierra del Fuego ..Falkland Islands ..Other Sub-Antarctic |
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With 40 years experience in the Southern Ocean, Jérôme is of course specialised
in Antarctic areas (Scotia Sea). However, he will always be interested in
projects leading to places that have never or rarely been sailed to, his passion
is Exploration. Chartering his yachts allows him to share his passion and knowledge
with you. As a pioneer of his kind he has opened up the ice routes to small
yachting (1973) and made feasible what was until then considered impossible...
NB: The owner cannot guarantee total success in any venture. However with a greater commitment in time, the greater the chances to achieve the goal.
Antarctica, known as the ice continent, provides an extraordinary destination for people willing to experience or see the ice in all of its splendour. The peninsula is a common and easy destination that you will reach after crossing the famous Drake Passage. You can combine a trip to any of the following places mentioned below. However they are only easily accessible for the 4-5 months of the Austral Summer, with the option of combining a voyage to the ice with a cruise through the Chilean canals and around Cape Horn on the return leg.
4 main areas:
South
Shetland Islands: Beautiful rugged scenery with ice, snow, mountains but also huge exposures of rocks and soils. Very rich wildlife (the largest Chinstrap penguin concentration
in the world with 1 700 000 pairs, Cape Pigeons, Fur and Elephant Seals,
etc.). Quite exposed to wind and waves. Crossing: 3-4 days.
nautical miles from North to South, and almost all accessible by Golden
Fleece, from the Weddell Sea - James Ross Isl. (64°N/58°W) to Marguerite
Bay and George VI Sound (70°S/69°W). Quite sheltered sailing and mooring.
Lots of glaciers and ice in all its aspects (icebergs, fast-ice, floes,
pack...), rich wildlife. Crossing: 4 days to reach the Northern part
of the Peninsula, 6 days to reach Marguerite Bay directly. Location: >60°S. Highest summit: Mt Français (2822 m). Points of interest and attractions: The ice and unique icy landscape (icebergs, packice, icecaps, floes, glaciers, etc), Wildlife (lots of whales, all sorts of seals and seabirds incl. penguins, petrels, terns, Fulmars, etc.), Mountaineering (Rock and Ice), Hiking, Skiing, Diving, Kayaking, Visiting Whaling Stations or Antarctic scientific bases, etc. General weather conditions: very windy to flat calm and sunny, period of 24h light from November to end of January, period with least ice from December to March, Permit required: Golden Fleece renews its UK Foreign Office Permit under Antarctic Act every year. Crossing: see above. Voyage duration: 3 weeks to 1 month should be a minimum, or more according to the specifications of the expedition.
A combination of high mountains and the sea, of the Alps or the Appalachians
and Antarctica. It is the destination par excellence for any wilderness
enthusiast, with exceptional scenery and amazing wildlife, to experience
your favourite sport or activity. South Georgia is extraordinarily rich in
wildlife with the worlds largest colonies of Wandering Albatross (2500 pairs),
Elephant Seals (350,000), Southern Fur seals (2,800,000), Gentoo Penguins
(80,000 pairs) and astonishing concentrations of Macaroni Penguins, Sooty
Albatross, King penguins, etc. Wildlife numbers peak during the breeding season
from October to February, while skiing and mountaineering are recommended
in the late winter and early spring months, from August to October. Breeding
time for Elephant Seals is September and is really worth seeing.
Location: 55°S/36°W. British territory with its own government based in the Falklands. Capital: Grytviken. Highest summit: Mt Paget (2934 m). Points of interest and attractions: Wildlife (see above), Mountaineering, Kayaking, Skiing, Diving, Visiting abandoned Whaling Stations and the Museum and Administrative Centre in Grytviken, etc. General weather conditions: March and April should be avoided for bad weather and poor presence of wildlife. Permit required. Crossing: 4 days. Voyage duration: 3 weeks to 1 month should be a minimum, or more according to the specifications of the expedition.
With 10 main islands, this very isolated and volcanic archipelago offers incredible
scenery for those fond of the wilderness and Nature in its raw elements.
It is amazing to see the very rich wildlife emerging from this inhospitable
piece of earth (largest single colony of Chinstrap penguins in the world with
750 000 pairs - total of 1 300 000 pairs in the South Sandwich). The South
Sandwich Islands are rarely visited and certainly belong to the last few unspoiled
places that are accessible.
Location: 57°S/27°W. British territory under the government of South Georgia. Uninhabited. Highest summit: Mt Belinda (1 372m). Points of interest and attractions: many active Volcanoes, Mountaineering with lots of first ascents to be attempted, very rich Wildlife, etc. General weather conditions: Very windy area, few sheltered areas. Permit required. Crossing: 6 days. Voyage duration: 1 month should be a minimum, or more according to the specifications of the expedition.
The Falklands are an archipelago inhabited since the 19th century but discovered
as early as the 18th by whalers and sealers. Since the War of 1982, interest
and tourism have developed. Although there are daily flights to most tourist
locations, cruising around the islands remains a cost-effective solution to
both your accommodation and local transport logistics. It certainly is also
the best and only way to reach and see the extraordinary wildlife and scenery.
Location: 52°S/60°W. British territory with its own government. Population: 2300 Capital: Stanley. Points of interest and attractions: Wildlife (largest colony of black-browed Albatross in the world (250 000 pairs) and Striated Caracaras so-called "Johnny Rooks" (approx. 2 000 pairs), Rockhopper penguin colonies, Fur Seal and Sea Lion rookeries, etc.), Kayaking, Surfing, Windsurfing, Fishing (sea trout), etc. General weather conditions: Fairly windy area, normally rather dry. How to get there: 2 military planes a week from/to England (RAF Brize Norton - see with Falkland House London tel. +44 (0) 171 222 2542) + Weekly flight (LanChile) every Saturday from/to Chile, passing via Rio Gallegos (Argentina) once a month. Daily local flights to/from most places in the Falklands.
The Alps and the Norwegian Fjords by the sea...
Sailing in the Fuegian and Patagonian canals makes up a very nice journey
and approach to the Southern Latitudes. It allows those who have little vacation
time to experience a typical Southern scenery. However some other yachts might
be more specialised in this area.
5 main areas:
Location: 52-56°S/64-73°W. Main cities: Ushuaia (Argentina), Punta Arenas (Chile) Lots of very high summits (Mt Sarmiento 2467m, Mt Darwin, etc.). Points of interest and attractions: lots of Fjords and Waterfalls and Glaciers falling to the sea, Mountaineering, Hiking, Sailing, Diving, Kayaking, Wildlife (Sea Lions, Commerson's and Peale's Dolphins, Steamer Ducks, Rock and Blue-eyed Shags, Rockhopper and Magellanic Penguins, etc.). General weather conditions: Often rainy and gusty. Some warm and sunny days in summer and autumn. Crossing: 3 days to Ushuaia.
There are some other places around Antarctica rarely visited but still of great interest. Jérôme would be happy to be part of a project to these destinations. He knows most of them already, having sailed there before on "Damien" and "Damien II".
Golden
Fleece
Expedition Cruises
Falkland Islands
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