In February 2002, I was unbelievably fortunate to be selected as a representative of British Energy to Mission Antarctica.    The Organizer, Robert Swan, had walked to both the North and South poles and was inspired to speak about climate change at the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.  He decided to inspire people to pay attention to the environment by accomplishing the difficult task of cleaning up 50 years of industrial waste at the Russian base at Bellinghausen on King George Island  off the Antarctica Peninsula.  It took years to organize, but in January 2002, 1000 tons of scrap metal had been loaded onto a barge for recycling in Uruguay, and toxic waste had been shipped to the UK for safe disposal.  He brought young people, corporate sponsors and governments together to accomplish this, and as a representative of a corporate sponsor, I was crew on"2041", Mission Antarctica's 67-ft yacht, for two weeks, learned about the project, took photographs and sailed her across the Drake to South America.  I also was able to work for Mission Antarctica at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2002.  The photos are how they came out of a borrowed camera nearly 20 years ago, a sturdy Kodak DC500 with which I had condensation problems.  Please note that the videos are not mine, they were taken by 2nd Mate Alex (Alf) Johnston.
Steve, Darren and Russian Guide Valery on our hike of King George on Day 1
Steve, Darren and Russian Guide Valery on our hike of King George on Day 1
Steve, me and Darren on arrival on King George Island
Steve, me and Darren on arrival on King George Island
Chinstrap Penguins on King George Is.
Chinstrap Penguins on King George Is.
Closeup of Chinstraps
Closeup of Chinstraps
Crabeater Seal
Crabeater Seal
Steve, Darren, Robert and Valery inside the Bellinghausen Base
Steve, Darren, Robert and Valery inside the Bellinghausen Base
Elephant Seals
Elephant Seals
Fur Seals
Fur Seals
Steve, me and Darren celebrating our arrival
Steve, me and Darren celebrating our arrival

"2041" taken from the bow.  She is a Challenge Yacht, built to go upwind around the world, and reinforced for Antarctic cruising.  We were very happy to have the hard dodger when weather was rough

Emperor Penguin on Bellinghausen beach
Emperor Penguin on Bellinghausen beach
emperor closeup
emperor closeup
Steve looking contemplative
Steve looking contemplative
Frazil Ice
Frazil Ice
Mike and Alf strategizing.  Dione Star in the backgroun
Mike and Alf strategizing. Dione Star in the backgroun
Me and Steve enjoying our sail with the Russian cleanup team
Me and Steve enjoying our sail with the Russian cleanup team
up the mast for a better view
up the mast for a better view
2041 crew with Russian Base leaders
2041 crew with Russian Base leaders
Andy and Alf with Russian base leader
Andy and Alf with Russian base leader
Russians wave goodbye from Bellinghausen base
Russians wave goodbye from Bellinghausen base
Gentoo Penguins at Yankee Harbor
Gentoo Penguins at Yankee Harbor
Mike making friends with Gentoos
Mike making friends with Gentoos
Gentoos
Gentoos
Morning at Yankee Harbor
Morning at Yankee Harbor
At Enterprise Is.
At Enterprise Is.
at Enterprise Is.
at Enterprise Is.
Alf, Alex, andy and Steve with 2041 tied up to shipwreck, Enterprise Is.
Alf, Alex, andy and Steve with 2041 tied up to shipwreck, Enterprise Is.
Our travelling companions on Dione Star at Enterprise Is.
Our travelling companions on Dione Star at Enterprise Is.
2041 at anchor
2041 at anchor
Blue Iceberg
Blue Iceberg
Minke Whale
Minke Whale
Iceberg
Iceberg
Fur seals
Fur seals
Fur seals
Fur seals
Glacier
Glacier
On shore with fur seals
On shore with fur seals
Leopard seals pursuing our dingy!
Leopard seals pursuing our dingy!
Captain Andy paddles in the snow in his rubber canoe
Captain Andy paddles in the snow in his rubber canoe
Anchored at Almirante Brown Station
Anchored at Almirante Brown Station
View at Almirante Brown
View at Almirante Brown
Gentoo Nuzzle
Gentoo Nuzzle
Gentoo mama
Gentoo mama
Gentoo mamas
Gentoo mamas
Snowman at Almirante Brown Station
Snowman at Almirante Brown Station
Keeping watch
Keeping watch
Almirante Brown station, already closed for winter
Almirante Brown station, already closed for winter
Up the hill at Almirante Brown
Up the hill at Almirante Brown
2041 nestled against iceberg
2041 nestled against iceberg
blue iceberg
blue iceberg
evening reflections
evening reflections
cormorants at Almirante Brown
cormorants at Almirante Brown
The Antarctica Olympics!
The Antarctica Olympics!
2041 and an iceberg in the Lemaire Channel
2041 and an iceberg in the Lemaire Channel
2041 in the Lemaire Channel
2041 in the Lemaire Channel
penguins and 2041 on Peterman Is.
penguins and 2041 on Peterman Is.
Peterman Island
Peterman Island
Peterman Island
Peterman Island
Peterman Island
Peterman Island
Peterman Island
Peterman Island
Lemaire Channel
Lemaire Channel
View from Aloft
View from Aloft
view from the spreader
view from the spreader
very high up
very high up
Alf on the other spreader
Alf on the other spreader
Andy at the helm
Andy at the helm
end of the Lemaire
end of the Lemaire

Skipper Andrew Dare talks about navigating the Lemaire Channel Feb 28, 2002

a beautiful calm morning, last day to explore before crossing the drake.  We're going to 

Happy Arrival at Micalvi YC in Puerto Williams
Happy Arrival at Micalvi YC in Puerto Williams
Andy cracking the bubbly
Andy cracking the bubbly
I think this is a famous boat that I read a book about in the 80s....?
I think this is a famous boat that I read a book about in the 80s....?
tidying up
tidying up

Sandy's reaction to Drake Crossing

Steve's reaction to Drake Crossing

Mike's reaction to Drake Crossing

Darren's reaction

Captain Andy cracks champagne

2nd Mate and Videographer Alex (Alf) Johnston

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