Five days in port can be hell, five days to get ready for international
ocean passage is just plain busy, crazy busy, but luckily good.
When the boat is all packed, stowed and arranged, its amazing how everything
just disappears into spaces, maybe to never be discovered for a long time ?
hopefully this is the case with the wide range of spares that Xplore
carries.
But I look at my cabin and my life on Xplore and it all revolves around two
bright yellow boxes, these are the boxes that have my clothes, socks and
thermals in, its the only space I have for them, you may think that this is
pretty grim to only have 2 boxes, they only measure 400mm x 350mm x 300.
But as a sailor and being very accustomed to life at sea, this is more than
plenty for a warm and comfortable life, even in Antarctica, why have more if
you don't need more ?
We untied our dock lines at 1030am this morning in Ushuaia Argentina, and
now we are heading east along the Beagle Channel to open seas, the South
Atlantic to be exact, and from there we turn north for 7,500 nautical miles
to the shores of France.
We have a good team on Xplore, just 4, Jane, John and Vincent and myself.
days and weeks of open wide oceans await us, I long for those silent nights
where we slip along on a calm breeze and bathe in the moon light.
The time for adventure is always very real on Xplore, and we know that our
future is very bright, of ideas, of dreams and of very apparent projects
that lie at our door step.
See you soon in Europe, Stephen
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Adventures are a live
Adventures are a live.
To have dreams in life are important, to make dreams happen mean that they need to be realistic, viable, timely and most importantly that you are passionate about making them happen.
For all of these reasons I can honestly say that I am very fortunate and lucky in my life, as the many doors that have been opened for a variety of reasons along the way, they have been doors that have showed the path to dreams and adventures far beyond my belief.
I have been coming here to the white south since 2003, that that has certainly been an adventure, our works and interest in hydrography over the last seven years have been so rewarding and special to me, and these endeavours once again have opened more doors.
We have just received final confirmation that the City of Brest in France, historic maritime port, and home of the French hydrographic office Shom, they have invited Xplore to be based there for the European summer.
Our aim and objectives for visiting France and Europe are for very real reasons, there is 90 % of the worlds waters which are not accurately surveyed, and we feel that Xplore and our passion for remote region surveying needs to continue.
The news puts a very special smile on my face, I don't know what doors this will open?, or even if this will all continue, but I certainly know that if I don't ever take calculated chances in life as these very special doors are opened up, then the chance of amazing things happening, and for dreams to
become a reality will surely fade as the sun does each day.
Stephen
To have dreams in life are important, to make dreams happen mean that they need to be realistic, viable, timely and most importantly that you are passionate about making them happen.
For all of these reasons I can honestly say that I am very fortunate and lucky in my life, as the many doors that have been opened for a variety of reasons along the way, they have been doors that have showed the path to dreams and adventures far beyond my belief.
I have been coming here to the white south since 2003, that that has certainly been an adventure, our works and interest in hydrography over the last seven years have been so rewarding and special to me, and these endeavours once again have opened more doors.
We have just received final confirmation that the City of Brest in France, historic maritime port, and home of the French hydrographic office Shom, they have invited Xplore to be based there for the European summer.
Our aim and objectives for visiting France and Europe are for very real reasons, there is 90 % of the worlds waters which are not accurately surveyed, and we feel that Xplore and our passion for remote region surveying needs to continue.
The news puts a very special smile on my face, I don't know what doors this will open?, or even if this will all continue, but I certainly know that if I don't ever take calculated chances in life as these very special doors are opened up, then the chance of amazing things happening, and for dreams to
become a reality will surely fade as the sun does each day.
Stephen
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Give a little bit
Give a little bit.
I have always wondered how humans make the conscious and unconscious balance about giving, is it because we do this with a heartfelt desire, it cant be with everyone I ask myself.
There are family members, there are friends, there are fellow workers, and the companies that employ us, and the strangers even in the street, our partners and lover, there are so many varying degrees and reasons why we give.
The money, the acceptance, the pure pleasure, the greed and the behind the deed objectives that can so often cloud the initial act which seems so genuine and real, quite a mixed puzzle.
So what is real and what is contrived ?, possibly if you think about it too much there would be not a lot of satisfaction, as doubt can so often bring in the negatives, and not the possibly intended positive, a human instinct and trait in it self.
But there does come a time, hopefully often, that the giving is a mutually and natural experience which is shared between the majority of those that we come in contact with on a regular basis, it is meant to be a revolving circle between the ones that exists in our lives in so many ways and fields.
But giving cant, and I think shouldn't need to be counted, other wise the balancing scales which can never really be added up have gone out of kilter....... time to exit left of stage ?.
May our lives have many very real and genuine giving experiences, even in the smallest of ways it does make a difference.
Stephen
I have always wondered how humans make the conscious and unconscious balance about giving, is it because we do this with a heartfelt desire, it cant be with everyone I ask myself.
There are family members, there are friends, there are fellow workers, and the companies that employ us, and the strangers even in the street, our partners and lover, there are so many varying degrees and reasons why we give.
The money, the acceptance, the pure pleasure, the greed and the behind the deed objectives that can so often cloud the initial act which seems so genuine and real, quite a mixed puzzle.
So what is real and what is contrived ?, possibly if you think about it too much there would be not a lot of satisfaction, as doubt can so often bring in the negatives, and not the possibly intended positive, a human instinct and trait in it self.
But there does come a time, hopefully often, that the giving is a mutually and natural experience which is shared between the majority of those that we come in contact with on a regular basis, it is meant to be a revolving circle between the ones that exists in our lives in so many ways and fields.
But giving cant, and I think shouldn't need to be counted, other wise the balancing scales which can never really be added up have gone out of kilter....... time to exit left of stage ?.
May our lives have many very real and genuine giving experiences, even in the smallest of ways it does make a difference.
Stephen
Monday, January 20, 2014
CCCC
Every Antarctic adventure is different, the people, the objectives and the plans, and like every trip it's the weather and the ice conditions that dictate the schedule of the days.
January 2014 is Czech time on Xplore and we have the team of CCCC, Chirpy, Cheerful Czech Chappies and such a nice group they are.
Heading the team of top level climbers is Mareck and the two Valdimir's, ranked as some of the best alpinists in the world, these guys are like rats up a drain pipe when it comes to ice and mountain climbing.
There is the second group of climbers who have also very much had their hey day of climbing adventures with many having climbed over 8 mountains of over 8,000 meters, so with slightly more "less scary" objectives our team two "warm penguins" as they have been fondly referred to as they are still
venturing on some dam fragile mountain faces.
For the entire team, climbing in Antarctica from sea level has shown them a very different side of what ice and snow conditions can be like, so very different than the Himalayans and European mountains, so the learning curve has been interesting but the successes for both teams has been great.
With one team member who is an active paraglider, we have the first ever Czech pilot to take flight and soar over the white expanse. We have our technical team having made an impressive first ascent on the Osterrieth mountain range, eastern side of Anvers Island, the 14 1/2 hour climber took them from sea level to 1420 meters of truly amazing viewing, as we were able to anchor near by and watch the entire ascent with perfectly clear conditions it was better than watching a nail biting grand final in any sport.
The decent went smoothly and with the weather starting to close in, Xplore positioned in a near bay to reduce the time the team had to traverse for the final pick up nearly 24 hours after their departure.
With massive ice cliffs surrounding the bay, we were able to locate a stable 22 meter glacier ice face that the team AB sailed straight down onto the foredeck of Xplore ending their marathon.
The footage from their ascent as they looked directly down 80 degrees sheer ice walls, and the panoramic vistas from their altitude just takes your breath away in every sense.
The travels go on as we search for the perfect climbing routes on the most beautiful mountains here in Antarctica.
Stephen
Friday, January 10, 2014
No news is good news
No news is good news.
Well 2013 has slipped past, and what a year to remember for so many reason, the good the bad and the ugly, but what has transpired and been achieved during that year has even surprised me.
You are right in wondering why Xplore has been quiet, with no news to report, well that is certainly not from a lack of material or inspiration, lots of that floating about down here in Antarctica.
But the passing of 2013 has continued to bring many new plans ideas and continued works with the hydrography along with some great Antarctica clients and their projects.
December 1st had Xplore head south to the freezer with a great group of USA skiers, the crossing was very cold with large amounts of icing on deck and in the rigging as water temperatures were below 0 degrees centigrade, but the team skied and basked in the sun light and truly enjoyed the magic that only Antarctica can show.
January also has brought a top team of Czech climbers who are determined to climb the vast array of peaks on the peninsula, the "Chirpy, chipper Czech chappies" CCCC as we have fondly started calling them, as their enthusiasm, great spirit and helpful hands around the boat in everything we do is a lovely experience, great humour bringing loads of laughs.
But every time I turn a corner here in Antarctica and navigate on the charts that are available, it is so glaringly obvious that the works that we did last January 2013 must continue, we have currently supplied 7 vessels with the new Xplore"Crafty charts" which comprise of 7 new, small scale charts, response to our project and what we have achieved is still getting media attention, see :
I hope to be able to share more regular news with you all as the season continues, but I can assure you that my mind is far from inactive as I am now planning ways to be able to move forward Xplore's continued role in hydrography in these remote locations.
Stephen
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Website not available
As some of you may have noticed, our website www.xplore-expeditions.com is not available at the moment, we are working on it.
In the meantime, you can contact us at:
stephenwilkins@hotmail.com and xploreexpeditions@gmail.com
Fair winds,
The team at Xplore Expeditions
Monday, November 4, 2013
Xplore departs with hydrography heart
24 hours after leaving Valdivia in the River region of Chile, the boat feels settled, the long days of preparation have gone well and it shows.
Just before leaving we recieved a copy of the hydrographic presentation that French Hydrographer Yoann and I did in Copenhagen. The link if you are interested in what we managed to do in Antarctica in January this year is :
We look forward to a great and interesting season of adventure back in the
south this season.
Stephen
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