Sailing expedition Southern Ocean in Shackleton's footsteps – South Georgia and Falkland Islands

Sailing SOUTH 2026 – Sailing expedition in Shackleton's footsteps Natural paradise South Georgia and Falkland Islands

In 1913, whilst searching for suitable men for the crew of his expedition to traverse Antarctica, Shackleton advertised in the London "Times":
"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success."

Despite this honest and unvarnished prospect, the number of applicants (5,000) exceeded that of the required crew (56 on two ships) many times over. The expedition, however, failed before it properly began: Shackleton's ship, the Endurance, was trapped in ice and sank, but the "Boss", as his men respectfully called him, ensured with one of the most incredible rescue operations in polar history that all of them returned alive.

In our case, the prospects are not quite so perilous and we won't need two years until our return.

It all began several years ago against the backdrop of fulfilling a childhood dream: to sail the Southern Ocean in Shackleton's footsteps. From this emerged the privately organised sailing expedition "Sailing SOUTH 2024". At the beginning of February 2024 the time had come. Thanks to some adventurous comrades and the polar sailing enthusiasts at Selma Expeditions, a personal dream became a shared adventure and a successful expedition: 45 unforgettable days and 3,078 nautical miles in the Southern Ocean and the Weddell Sea, with Antarctica, the South Shetlands and Elephant Island ultimately in our wake.
But – as expeditions tend to have – not all our plans came to fruition: nature threw a spanner in the works. Shackleton and his men were thwarted by ice in 1914; we, 110 years later, by avian flu, which made landing in South Georgia impossible.

The goal of South Georgia, however, is not written off, the dream not yet finished. And therefore there are now new plans:
2026 – again 110 years after Shackleton set foot on this remote island in the Southern Ocean – I want to make another attempt and organise two expeditions to this storm-battered subantarctic island.

Sailing SOUTH 2026

Twice we want to sail through the furious 50s and set course for South Georgia. At the beginning of the Antarctic spring, before the cruise season. When this natural paradise is just awakening from its winter sleep, still untouched, deserted. Populated only by the countless and innumerable millions of seabirds, seals, elephant seals and penguins that head for the wild coasts of this Antarctic oasis at that time.

On a ski expedition we want to discover South Georgia in Shackleton's footsteps, to trace those of the old whaling stations. We will literally follow in Shackleton's footsteps, across the glaciated central mountains and traverse the island, just as the Boss and his companions did during the spectacular rescue operation of the Endurance expedition crew 110 years earlier.
On a second sailing expedition we want to discover the inaccessible coasts and bays of South Georgia, the spectacular glaciers and the unique biodiversity of this Antarctic oasis. Afterwards we set course for the remote and numerous islands of the Falklands. This South Atlantic archipelago is considered a challenging sailing area and beckons with magnificent landscapes, rugged coasts and idyllic beaches. Here too a fantastic natural paradise with subantarctic wildlife awaits discovery – Antartica light, you might say: numerous penguin species, seals, elephant seals, whales, dolphins, albatrosses and other seabirds populate the islands.

Two great adventures on a small sailing yacht. In one of the most remote, wildest and most beautiful sailing areas in the world. These expeditions offer a rare and exceptional opportunity to get to know South Georgia and the Falkland Islands in an individual, very personal way and to explore them with plenty of time.

Selma Expeditions is again on board as partner: a proven expedition sailing yacht built for extreme conditions, which already has countless miles in polar regions in her wake, and her tried-and-tested skipper team with extensive experience in high latitudes, the Antarctic and on long trips in such remote areas.

But the team is not yet complete, so we are looking for more adventurous people with enthusiasm and passion, curiosity and a desire to discover the unknown and willing to make this dream come true together.

Are you in?