Antarctic boat heading for Argentina and fame
20th November 2009
101 passengers trapped on board the Kapitan Khlebnikov in the Weddell Sea are now safely en route to Argentina
The Antarctic icebreaker trapped for a week in the Weddell Sea is now in open water and due to arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina on Sunday 22 November.
101 passengers on board the Kapitan Khlebnikov had their trip extended by six days when poor weather conditions brought the vessel to a frozen halt last week. However, on-board helicopters were able to resume flights on Monday, ferrying passengers to the Snow Hill Island penguin rookery, the goal of the expedition. [Watch a video of Snow Hill here.]
As the ice conditions improved, the Khlebnikov was able to make progress by Wednesday.
Reporting from the Khlebnikov’s radio room today, Exodus expedition leader Paul Goldstein reported: “As I look out over the bow, for the first time in ten days there is more dark blue than white. Finally the industrial sea ice has relinquished its vice-like grip.
“This Antarctic holiday has become a unique polar pilgrimage. It is midnight on board; the bar is still full to the gunwales with delirious passengers of many nationalities. Not only do they know that they are getting home, they are also fully cognisant that they have had an experience that is unlikely to be bettered.”
Goldstein is scheduled to appear live on Simon Calder's LBC radio show this Sunday at 2pm, to discuss the experience.
He will also be giving what is being billed as a 'spectacular illustrated account of this incredible pilgrimage' at the Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington, on Wednesday 2nd December – find out more here.