Sailing Trips

Antarctica
This unique expedition sailing ship travel to Antarctica will leave incredible, unique impressions. From Ushuaia / Argentina from pursuing the Sarah - Vorwerk, the traditional route, which was committed by courageous researchers for centuries. First she travels eastwards along the Beagle Channel to south crossing the Drake Passage.

Your first impressions of the Antarctic will be deep and stable. This is completely independent of the weather or the time of day we will reach Antarctica. The landscape is incredibly bright even when the sun disappears behind the horizon shortly.
Depending on the conditions, we will begin the northern areas of the Antarctic Peninsula to explore and then choose the best places where you can experience the incredible amount of wildlife in the region - including whales, penguins, birds and seals.

Whether you're more of an active person or just want to soak up the magic of Antarctica in itself. There is a wide variety of ways to enjoy: mountain climbing, take the boat to the icebergs, visit penguin colonies snowshoeing or just spend time on the ice.

Based on many years of experience we know that 3 weeks Minimum on the Sarah-Vorwerk are such an Antarctic Adventure. To access this quiet and unspoiled places that are only possible per ships as Sarah, even 4 weeks are recommended. This represents a particularly important prerequisite to fully immersed in this incredible and unique place.

Activities and Excursions in Ushuaia, Kap Hoorn and the Antarctica

The opportunities of activities and excursions are endless and depends strongly from the person as well as from the equipment which you have with you. The Sarah-Vorwerk has the land and dive equipment as well as two kajaks, one rubber boat, one dive compressor, nine aluminium bottles, five diving goggles and five flippers. 

Some of the principal excursions at the antarctica are rubber boat tours to see the wilderness or to get to unknown places. There are also excursions to the penguine colonies, to hike, mountain climbing, hystorical cities. Excursion to research stations are possible because some countries have permanent or over the summer occupied research stations. 

There are no days were the travelers dont want to take photos of the beautiful landscape or wilderness. It doesn't happend rarely that you sit together and want to crown the photo of the day - specially today where digitality makes it easier to choose the best ones. 

1. day: Ushuaia
Landing in Ushuaia you will see the fascinating beauty of the region with its many glaciers. It is highly recommended to arrive in Ushuaia a day before the embarkation. The crew welcomes you on the Bark Europa at five p.m. You find the ship at the pier "Puerto Comercial". After moving into your cabin, you and the other passengers will enjoy your first meal on board. Then the captain will inform you about the sailing plan.

2. day: Beagle Channel - Bahia Nassau - Drake Passage
After a calm night in the harbour the ship heads on in the Beagle Channel. On board the passengers get their first safety instructions. In the evening you can marvel at the impressive landscape of Tierra del Fuego.

3. - 5. day: Drake Passage
Today you sail through the Drake Passage, passing Bahia Nassau and the famous Cape Horn. While sailing through the Drake Passage your participation is assumed. At the stormy Cape you will be accompanied by Cape petrels, White-chinned petrels and Albatrosses.After passing the Antarctic Convergence Zone the water temperatur falls from 5° to 1° Celsius. The water becomes green and species-rich.

6. day: Barrientos Island
Today starts your first excursion. The Bark Europa anchors at the Barrientos Island, an Island of the Aitcho Archipelago. The ship is surrounded by penguins and at the beach you can observe gentoo and chinstrap penguins. Further more you can spot elephant seals and giant petrels.

7. day: Yankee Harbour oder Hannah Point
With a little bit of luck you will be able to spot a humpback whale today. If there is enough time, the bark Europa will be sailing to the famous Edinburgh Hill. This basalt rock was created by a volcanic eruption and sticks out in the middle of the sea. Depending on the weather and the surrounding conditions you visit either Yankee Harbour or Hannah Point.
Yankee Harbour is a safe harbor on Greenwich Island. In the past, it was a very popular spot for seal hunters who made it a basecamp during their hunting parties. In addition, the area is well known for its colony of Gentoo penguins consisting of approximately 4.000 breeding pairs.
Hannah Point is located on the southern shore of Livingston Island. Its gravel beaches and sandy slopes are the habitat for a lot of different plants and wildlife that can be observed, for example elephant seals, nesting penguins, king cormorants, giant petrels and whales.

8. day: Pendulum Cove/ Deception Insel
Further to the south there is ring the ring-shaped Deception Island. Your ship sails through the narrow passage by the name “Neptune’s Bellows” right into the island’s impressive crater. At Pendulum Cave, a former bay used by whalers, you can experience the unique features of the island during an excursion or, in case of good weather, have a bath in one of the warm springs at the beach. In former times, there was a whaling station on the island. Later this protected bay made a base camp for explorers, but was destroyed by volcanic activities in 1970. Furthermore it is possible to visit the biggest colony of chinstrap penguins of the antarctic peninsula at Bailey’s Head.

9. day:Trinity Island
Today you will cast the anchor between Spert Island and Trinity Island. By dinghy you explore the impressive and amazing icescape and enjoy the play of colours and the turquoise water that make the world seem somehow surreal.

10. day: Enterprise oder Cuverville Island
At Enterprise Island you might be lucky to spot some whales or you can visit Governoren Harbour. This town was named after the whaler who went by the same name and who was shipwrecked here. Today the wreck of his ship serves as a nesting site for seabirds. Alternatively you sail on up to Cuverville Island, which is characterized by its glaciers and steep cliffs. It is populated by a variety of seafowl. The island as well gives a splendid view on the Errera Channel and the Gerlache Strait.

11. day: Paradise Harbour oder Neko Harbour
On the 11th day of your trip you experience the impressing force of the ice. You will be surrounded by glaciers and ice walls towering out of the water. You will hear the crackling and tearing of the ice and see icy rocks collapsing into the water.

12. / 13. day: Argentinische Inseln
Today you will pass the Lemaire Channel, also called the Kodak Gap, where you will be surrounded by cliffs up to 1.000m high. The ship will be sailing through the narrow Penola Strait and, depending on the condition of the ice, come to pass Penola to reach the Archipelago in the early evening. Your captain will navigate the vessel through a maze made of ice and islands to a fitting anchorage. In the afternoon you will visit the Ukrainian research station Wernadsky, which is populated by 10-15 people and receives supplies only twice a year. A research assistant will guide the passengers through the station, that is provided with an own pub and a sauna, and will report of the scientific work and everyday life at this station.

13. Tag:Petermann Island

Some hours after leaving the Argentine Islands you will reach Petermann Island, where you will be able to observe breeding Adélie penguins for the first time.

14. Tag: Port Lockroy

You will cast the anchor at one of the most beautiful spots of Antarctica with an awesome view on the Fife mountain chain. There you will visit Port Lockroy, a natural port of the British Antarctic Territory, where you find both a museum and the only Antarctic post office. The island serves as a nesting site for Gentoo penguins, who often build their nests right on the walkways or on the door mat of the post office. At Jougla Point you are able to visit a completely reproduced skeleton of a whale.

15. Tag: Dorian Bay

Near Port Lockroy lies Dorian Bay. The plateau glacier in between those paces was used as an airfield for small planes in the past. In Dorian Bay a walk makes you experience the unique view, in addition you can find both gentoo penguins and Weddell seals. In the afternoon the bark will set sails through the Schollaert Channel to reach the Melchior Islands. You may be lucky to see Orcas with their pups during that trip.

16. Tag: Melchior Inseln

Today holds the last of your zodiac trips, that lets you discover the environment of the Melchior Islands with your dinghy. About noon you will begin your journey home, where you will pass Anvers Island and Mount Francais while headed towards South America.

17. - 19. Tag: Drake Passage

During the next days the bark travels through the Drake Passage again. On its way, it is accompanied by seafowl and dolphins.

20. Tag: Kap Horn und Feuerland

While crossing the Drake Passage, the ship passes Diego Ramirez Island and sails towards Kap Hoorn. On its way to the Beagle Channel you can admire the impressing break waving at the rocks of Kap Hoorn. Both the Islands and the fjords you see are becoming greener and greener again.

21. Tag: Ushuaia

While travelling the last miles of the Beagle Channel, it’s your last opportunity to breathe some fresh sea air. Right before arriving in Ushuaia the ship passes the “Islas de Lobos”. With a binocular you can observe a variety of seafowl. Within sight of Ushaia, it is time to finally time to pack your kitbag again.

22. Tag: Ushuaia

On the 22nd day you and your fellow sailors enjoy the last breakfast on board of the bark Europa. You will say goodbye to the ship, its crew and the other travelers and start your journey home.

Sarah-Vorwerk
Ship type: Skorpion IV
Yard: Feltz-Werft GmbH
Long: 16,00 m
Width: 4,50 m
Draught: 2,40 m
Year of built: 1988
Sail area: 154,00 qm
Fuel: 1.000 Liter
Water: 1.000 Liter
Cabins: 4
Capacity: 8 Passagiere

The Life on board of Sarah-Vorwerk
Often people who come with Sarah-Vorwerk chose it instead of going with a cruise ship because they don’t want to get tied into a set schedule and want to experience truly sailing in the south, we go where WE want to go and when we want to go. Henk Boersma is always pleased to get any and everyone involved in sailing Sarah-Vorwerk. Whether it’s your first time on a boat or you are trying to gain sea time experience or qualification by sailing in the demands of the south, we can help you to learn whatever aspect, theory and practical.But for those who choose the flexibility of a sailing yacht, you can also just sit back and relax, your on holidays! Sarah has its Skipper and crew to look after your needs and the safe passages that you are taken on. Being involved below decks or from the sailing and navigational side only makes the “total” experience so much richer and rewarding.

Skipper Henk Boersma
The dutch skipper Henk Boersma looks back on a 21 years long sailing experience. He was born in 1962 and discovered his love and passion to the sea when he was 12 years old. In 1978 he got his dutch skipper licence. After a two-year round the world  sailing tour he turned his passion into his profession. Since 1995 he works as a charter skipper on his sailing yacht Sarah-Vorwerk. He speaks English, Dutch, Friesian, German, Portuguese and Spanish. His most common destinations are regions like Tierra del Fuego & Cape Horn, South Georgia, Brazil and Antarctica.