Orvaldi Antarctica Project 2005
Expedition is part of multistage s/y Panorama yacht cruise around South America and to Antarctica. Destination is to reach as far as possible along Antarctic Peninsula to Margaret's Creek. If expedition will reach 68o geographical width S (boarder of South Polar Ring) it would be second time in history of Polish yachting. Only five Polish yachts reached Antarctica before. In 1981 s/y Gedania sailed around Adelaide Isle crossing the South Polar Ring. To the King George Isle came s/y Pogoria in 1981, s/y Zawisza Czarny in 1999 and s/y Stary in 2003. In 2004 s/y Zjawa IV came to King George Isle, Deception Isles and Antarctica mainland in the point at opposite Anvers Isle (64o 35''S). No one Polish yacht explored dangerous Arctic oceans. Basing on predecessors experience, Lowersilesians plans to go farer and sail deeper in Margaret's Creek. It would let them enjoy beauty of this part of the world, watch animals living in this area like walruses, penguin's colony, seals. Sailors in this area needs to has very good sailors skills, and be both physically and psychologically strong because of hard and variable atmospheric conditions (extremely low temperatures, strong winds). Two times they will sail through Drake's Strait (which is difficult from sailors and navigators point of view) and sail around Horn Cap.
The activity on the land of Adelaide's Isle, Deception's Isle and King George's Isle will be oriented to reaching highest picks, going through unexplored glaciers, photographic documentation of unknown parts. When the expedition reach isles by yacht, alpinists starts to explore mountains, reaching picks and/or opening new ways to picks. The idea is to name them by names of sponsors and organizers of expedition.
ANTARCTIC
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Antarctic is geographically isolated continent. It is covered by ice with thickness of 3km. 95% of the whole world's ice is placed on Antarctica. There was measured, lowest temperature on the world (-89,2oC). Looking at the average height of continents, the Antarctic is the highest in the world with its 2040m average height. The Antarctic coast is 27 000km long with 4% rocky or stone "beaches". The rest of coast is ice banks, ice clefs or barriers of shelf's ice. Mainland is mountain. Highest pick in Ellsworth's Mounts is 5140m.
The Drake's Strait is 6000m deep and withiest in the world (800-950km). It is called "Sailor's Hell" because of extremely heavy storms which comes form Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It is also often called "crying forties" or "crying fifties".
The very first sailors which explored far south ware walrus and seals hunters. At the beginning of XIX century they found at the gate of Antarctica very special isle with most wonderful natural harbor at the world.
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The Deception Isle was the ideal place for sailors in the land of storms. The isle is a pick of former volcano. The crater is filled with water with only 200 meters width isthmus. It is hard to find the way to entrance and looking from distance it is hard to believe what nice surprise is hidden in the Isle. The isthmus is called Neptun's Bellows. When ship pass it comes to peace bay covered from all sides by volcano's walls (500 meters high). On the beach with black volcano's sand still stand buildings of old walrus hunter's base. Deception Island is also known from its hot springs. They lets to has a worm bath on open air in the Antarctica.
TACTICS
The only possibility to explore Antarctic is the yacht which comes to its coast and lands explorers for daytrips. There are no harbors so landing is usually made using small boats with engine. Staying an the yacht gives safety and let easy to move from one place to another.
EXPEDITION'S PLAN
It starts 26th of December 2004. The crew flow to Buenos Aires, Argentina, then to Ushuaia local by carrier. To the end of year should be bought the all needed thinks like food which has to be obtained locally.
2nd of January 2005 the crew should be on the deck with all equipment packed. If the weather will be acceptable the s/y Panorama should leave Ushuaia.
First 10 days expedition will sail to the South, as close to Antarctica as possible.
Then yacht will sail close to Antarctic coast with attention put to exploration of Isles, searching for walruses, sails, penguins. Also some picks should be explored.
8 days before planned end of expedition the yacht should be close to Deception Island and starts to go back to Ushuaia through Drake's Strait and Beagle Channel. Beagle Channel is a narrow way between Fire Islands with the ice mounts. North part of Fire Islands are Darwin's Cordilleras.
Last two days are planned for yacht's refurnishing before next stage.
During the way back to Buenos Aires the 6 days trekking at Fitz Ror (3406m) is planned. Compare to Antarctica it seems like walk.
THE CREW
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Piotr Kuźniar - yacht captain form 1990, experienced polar explorer, diver, scientist. Propagator of polar cruises for yacht sailor''s . He sailed an Arctic See, Greenland See, Barents See, Norwegian See. Interesting cruises: Norwegian fjords 2000, around Europe 2001, Lofots and Spitzbergen 2002, Jan Mayen and Greenland 2003 (with first Polish climbing at Beerenberg's volcano).
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Sławomir Bieniek - traveler, alpinist, climber (Tatras, Alps, mountains in Africa and South America). In 2000 he climbed over Mont Blanc (4807m, Alps), in 2001 Aconcagua (6962m America), in 2002 Kilimanjaro (m, Africa), 2004 Chan Tegri 7010m, Tien Shan) |
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Paweł Chmielarczyk - sails from 20years, RYA Short Range Certificate, diver. Cruises: Ustka-Gdansk 1989, Iceland- Scotland 2003, Canary-Madera 2004, Lapland 2002.
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Dariusz Gocał - sails from 1989, polar explorer, alpinist, skier, licensed parachuter, kitesurfer. First officer at the cruises on Arctic See, Barents See, Norwegian See. Interesting cruises: Norwegian fjords 2000, around Europe 2001, Lofots and Spitzbergen 2002, Jan Mayen and Greenland 2003, two months cruise Canaria-Maroco-Spain (with wife and 5-year old daughter).
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Krzysztof Jasica - sails from 1988, experienced sailor, traveler, radio operator. China - 1987, Bermudas, Bahamas, Antigua, St.Thomas - 1990.
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Przemysław Lis - sails 1987, member of AZS Yacht Club from 1978. Vice-commander of AZS Yacht Club. Sails on Baltic See, North See, Norwegian See, Mediterranean. Cutty Sark Tall Ships 1996.
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Piotr Michałowski - sails form 1995. Certified radio operator. Skier, alpinist. Sails on Baltic See, North See, Norwegian See, Mediterranean
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Alicja Pichiewicz - sails from 1984. member of AZS Yacht Club from 1993. Certifie radio operator VHF. Windsurfer, licensed paraglider. Sails on Baltic See, North See, Norwegian See, Mediterranean.
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Ewa Skut - member of AZS Yacht Club from 1975, photographer, mountain lover, certified radio operator. Organizer of femine cruises Norway-Scotland 2002, Scotland-Iceland 2003.
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Włodzimierz Szczęsny - sails from 1978. Alpinist, climber. Organizer and member of many trekkings to Himalaya (Dampush Peak 6045m), Altay, Tien Shan, Caracorum, Dolomits, Greenland, Iceland, Patagonia. One of first Polish who come to Tibet.
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