Since 2010 I have been working in the challenging environment of the South Atlantic including the Antarctic Peninsula, and the surrounding Sub-Antarctic islands and regions.
2022-23For the 2022-23 season I once again joined the 23m “SV Australis” as first mate for two projects: one working with National Geographic filming around the rarely visited and inhospitable volcanic Saunders Island in the South Sandwich Islands, involving supporting land based and drones camera teams; the other filming orca with Netflix in Marguerite Bay assisting divers, drones and stabilised camera teams.
2021-2022
For the 2021-22 season I rejoined the 23m “
SV Australis” as first mate for two projects: one working with AppleTV filming around the Sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, involving supporting land based, drones and stabilised camera teams; the other filming orca with Disney+ in Marguerite Bay assisting divers, drones and stabilised camera teams.
2020-2021
For the 2020-21 season I was lucky enough to have two interesting projects.Despite the global pandemic and heavily restricted global travel, I joined the 23m “
SV Australis” as first mate for two Antarctic voyages: one project working with Disney+ filming fin whale aggregations involving supporting divers, drones and stabilised camera teams; the other supporting the Turkish Antarctic programme, heading to Marguerite Bay to service scientific instruments on Horseshoe Island.
August 2020
Delivery of “Kelpie”, a beautiful 57 foot 1903 gaff cutter from the drawing board of Alfred Milne, taking her from Rotterdam to Eastbourne.
2019-2020
For the 2019-20 season I decided not to work continuously and rather to focus on family. I completed two voyages as relief skipper.
• SV Icebird – Trentilla 62’ – 31 day trip as relief skipper for a mountaineering support on the Antarctic Peninsula.
• SV Pelagic Australis – 21 day trip to the Antarctic Peninsula as skipper with tourists, additionally teaching a new crew how to safely operate in the region.
2018-2019
For the 2018-19 season I skippered
Quixote Expeditions 66 foot charter yacht "Ocean Tramp". The season included a trip to the remote Argentine island and ecological reserve, Isla de los Estados, followed by a two and a half month Antarctic season. The Antarctic season included fly in/out trips starting and finishing in King George Island in the South Shetland Islands to the north of the Antarctic Peninsula.As well as tourism, specialist trips included:
• Guided photography trips for
Visionary Wild - one led by award winning polar photographer
Daisy Gilardini focusing on wildlife and the beauty of Antarctica; the other led by award winning National Geographic photographer
Michael Melford concentrating more on the drama of the Antarctic landscapes.
• A dive trip for
Big Animals Expeditions led by award winning photographer
Amos Nachoum. The focus of this trip was dive photography with leopard seals and icebergs.
2018
After a sabbatical period, I returned to help
Skip Novak's "Pelagic" working with the BBC Natural History Unit for a future blue-chip filming project due to be released in 2019; and later with "Pelagic Australis" delivering her from the Falklands to Cape Town, South Africa.
2015-2017
For two seasons I was skippering
Skip Novak's 74 foot charter yacht "Pelagic Australis". Our charters included multiple expeditions to South Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, and return crossings across the South Atlantic to Cape Town, South Africa including attempting visits to the remote Tristan da Cunha.Trips included:
• Mountaineering support for expeditions including with
Stephen Venables both in Antarctica and South Georgia
• Support for a project filming in Antarctica using drones and 360 cameras
• Supporting the Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, taking ice core samples in South Georgia
2012-2015
For three seasons I was skipper of
Skip Novak's 54 foot charter yacht "Pelagic". During this time I skippered charters including to Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. I also completed two double-handed southern Transatlantic crossings (from the Falklands to Cape Town, South Africa).Trips included working with:
•
Yachting World magazine for a series titled
"Heavy Weather Techniques"• BBC and
Andrew Graham-Brown Films for
"Penguin Post Office" TV programme
• Australian kayak team circumnavigating South Georgia
2010-2012
For two seasons I was working on
Skip Novak's "Pelagic Australis" as second mate, visiting the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula, and the remote Tristan da Cunha.
Skills
• Working in these remote and challenging environments for many years, the boat and crew have to be well prepared to cope with a busy season.
• Knowledge and skills navigating in ice
• Knowledge of safe anchorages and techniques when operating in the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, Falkland Islands, Tierra del Fuego
• Maintenance skills - on the rig or deck, in the engine room, and anywhere else on board!
• Management of crew
• Management of objectives, logistics, and clients to successfully complete a project
• Planning of voyages, including provisioning
• Weather routing and management
Qualifications
• RYA Ocean Yachtmaster, commercially endorsed
• STCW 2010 including Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Personal Safety and Responsibilities, Elementary First Aid, Proficiency in Security Awareness
• FREC3 medical training
• PADI Open Water diver
