The expedition liner Orion at Macca! We had to sail past without stopping… bummer!

ocean adventure by Don McIntyre

Above: Scott’s Hut, Cape Evans, Antarctica, is as far south as you can go. Jarle’s yacht Berserk disappeared just north of here, with the loss of three crew. Right: Inside Shackletons hut is an amazing experience and takes you back to another era 100 years ago, when you really were responsible for your own actions!

Orion’s passengers are all modern-day explorers, in five- star luxury for sure but nonetheless all setting out on a true adventure, and these special voyages have an unknown outcome On January 21, Dutch teen Laura Dekker, 16, became the youngest around-the-world solo Responsibility, sailor, beating ’s record. Personal responsibility gives us all the right to live or die in a manner it’s your call we choose. Taking it the next step brings us to accepting our own mortality and if you do that, it Whether you’re a five-star explorer or a crazy do-or-die can open the doors to a free and adventurer, risk-tacking can involve putting the lives of fulfilling life. BACK FOR MORE others at peril. DON MCINTYRE says it’s best to play by Okay, so what has sent me off the rules on this tangent in the Book of Dreams! Jarle Andhoey, the crazy he other day, I tried to from the Ross Sea on the last of winds and a 5m swell, aborting Viking of course. land 86 people at Sandy three voyages to the Antarctic. operations after filling a Zodiac Jarle is off again to the Ross Sea Bay on Macquarie It has been a tough season with with water. in Antarctica. Last season, he Island, 850 miles the worst pack ice in 40 years. We tragically lost his yacht Berserk southeast of Hobart, but got no closer than 160 miles to the FIVE-STAR EXPLORERS and three of his shipmates, deep Tfailed. It is a place I call “Jurassic continent on the first voyage to Orion’s passengers are all modern- in the Ross Sea during a huge Park on Steroids”. Ashore, king and Mawson’s huts. After navigating day explorers, in five-star luxury storm in freezing temperatures. royal penguins are in your face, 320 miles of heavy pack ice on the for sure but nonetheless all setting Jarle was onshore at the time, elephant seals burping and farting second attempt, we were locked out on a true adventure, and these they will say it is to inspire future Liability, rather than personal attempting to make for the South about you. The rabbits are gone out just five miles from shore. special voyages have an unknown generations by conserving the responsibility, is shaping our Pole. It was late in the season, he after a successful baiting program, On this, the third voyage, after outcome. legacy of adventure, discovery and society in all the wrong ways. had no permits and many say he so now mega herbs are taking root eight days heading south through It is the Mawson, Scott and endurance. A worthy cause! Scott and his men all accepted the was not fully prepared. A distress for the first time in many years. the Southern Ocean and pushing Shackleton centenaries this year. I just wish everyone — you, me ethos of “personal responsibility”. call and EPIRB signal activated a During the cyclone season, serious pack ice, we at least There was a lot going on in the and governments — could support, I have no intention of wasting search that risked many lives in while my yacht ICE is in (see made Scott and Shackleton’s huts. ice 100 years ago. The Antarctic encourage and inspire current my life anytime soon, but I would extreme conditions. He was later www.bluetreasure.me), I am Following, was an eight-day sail Heritage Trust is one of the generations to participate in any always protect the rights of any fined $5000 by the Norwegian the expedition leader aboard the north to Macquarie Island, where institutions conserving these form of adventure, discovery and individual to live their life, free Government. expedition liner MV Orion on the landing was impossible. We famous huts, relics of the Heroic endurance, every day! The world of all the constraints of society He sold his film of the adventure, which we are currently returning were beaten by strong northerly Era. You may wonder why, and would be a better place for it. or convention, if they so desired. and then in January this year flew

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a true Viking, then take “personal responsibility” for your actions and leave your EPIRB behind. These comments were reported widely. On Friday, January 27, Jarle had a press conference from his yacht, through his lawyer in Norway. He declared he did not have an EPIRB onboard. I guess the message got through! You have to respect the guy for that! I do. YOUNGEST SOLO In August 2010 in London, I was asked by the British media on numerous occasions to comment on Dutch girl Laura Dekker and her prospects of surviving a solo voyage around the world, at 15 years of age. Most thought it crazy. At the time I said, “why not, if she was up to it”, but only those who really knew her could answer that question. Sailing solo around the world is not rocket science any longer and she was being very conservative in her planning and preparation. She was playing by the rules, minimising risk and obviously had proven sailing skills and a level of experience. I once took an 82yo WWII fighter pilot on an expedition, when most people thought I was crazy. I just said age is just a number. He was great and we had a ball. Age is just a number for young people too. You cannot and should not stereotype them all. Give them a Above: Clark Carter battling increasing wind (and waves) onboard Joel Buoy shortly before letting out chance and let them grow. We are the drogue and retreating to the cabin. Right: Ben Turner in the cabin with a suspected broken elbow. all different and each has unique talents, skills and contrasting to and bought a the radar. I loved his first trip horizons. 54ft steel boat with the proceeds. to Antarctica in an old, cheap Laura just completed her solo He broke some immigration 27ft Vega fibreglass production in style at 16 laws along the way and when yacht many years ago, but times years of age, in a great display served with a deportation notice, have changed. He is now high- of seamanship. She is now the immediately took off without even profile with websites, blogs, youngest, surpassing our own clearing customs. Later he found a documentaries etc., and needed Jessica Watson. But the world is stowaway onboard. to rely on the system in an a funny place. One guru sailor Jarle is bound for the Ross attempt to rescue his boat and removed himself from selection Margaret Bowling letting off a smoke flare, signalling their position to the water police. Sea again on what the crew. If you want to use the of a major sailing award, because Norwegian Government says is system, you need to play by all Laura was on the same shortlist! Hobart. Also aboard were 32yo clockwork, thanks to ’s an “unauthorised” voyage, the the rules. I always do, as do Sad, hey! Margaret Bowling, the first amazing Rescue Coordination NZ Government calls it most responsible risk takers/ Australian woman to row an Centre and the people at the “unsanctioned”. adventurers. ROWER RESCUE ocean and 27yo adventurer Clark sharp end of operations (we He has no permits, as is required On January 24, when the Twenty-seven-year-old Ben Turner Carter. A few days into the row, should all feel proud!), plus the under the Antarctic Treaty, so NZ Navy and Customs has a dream. He was due to set they were rolled while riding out solid planning, preparation and he is clearly in breach of that Service were hunting Jarle, I off in April this year to become a storm. Normally no big deal, as training the rowers had in place. convention. Jarle wants to look for received many satellite calls the first and youngest Australian the boat is designed for this, but They could definitely look their wreckage or any signs of his lost from Norwegian and NZ to row solo, non-stop across the unfortunately Ben smashed and rescuers in the eye and say they yacht and crew. media looking for my opinion and Pacific. It will be a 10-month, broke his elbow. did everything possible to assist I like Jarle and his strong sense comments. I was already on my 17,000km row (see www. A satellite phone allowed efficient them and minimise their risk, once of adventure. He is obviously a way to the Ross Sea aboard Orion. Benturner.com.au). communications and the rescue the poo hit the fan! Well done. very good sailor. He hates the I had a simple message for Jarle: On Australia Day, Turner set authorities decided it was best Ben will be back and hopes to “system” and authority, doing it is a bad ice year, so maybe go off from Victoria on a shakedown to evacuate him from the boat. raise $1million for Cystic Fibrosis. everything he can to fly below next season, but if you want to be voyage aboard Joel Buoy to Everything after that went like Go Ben!

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