Vinson of Antarctica, Expedition Sailing Yacht Set for Arduous Adventures

These days, discussions about yachting expedition travel and new builds focus on motoryachts. They’re large megayachts, too. When Vinson of Antarctica sees delivery in a few months, she’ll change these conversations.

This 77-foot (23.5-meter) sailing yacht, from KM Yachtbuilders in The Netherlands, began construction as the Pelagic 77 model. Soon, she’ll call Puerto Williams, Chile, home. It’s the southernmost inhabited place on the globe. (On a related note, it’s a common starting point for voyages around Cape Horn and to Antarctica.) Furthermore, the crew of Vinson of Antarctica will take her there on her own bottom, following a maiden voyage to Norway this summer.

Christened in honor of Antarctica’s highest mountain, Vinson of Antarctica belongs to Nicolás Ibáñez Scott, an adventurer, entrepreneur, and scion of one of Chile’s richest families. He conceived the yacht for eight guests and three crew to head to high latitudes. “That calls for a high level of self-reliance, practical ease while sailing, and of course, given the Pelagic philosophy, simple systems that can be easily maintained even in remote areas without specialist help,” explains Skip Novak. The renowned ocean sailor, with more than two decades of experience conducting these types of trips, has been working with the owner. In fact, he’s doing so with designer Tony Castro through Pelagic Yachts, a design and consultancy firm for extreme navigation.

The trips for this particular yacht will combine charter excursions and private cruises. Six staterooms forward below decks accommodate guests (with two communal heads, too). A bamboo decor backdrop makes for a relaxing ambience in, for example, the pilothouse or lounging areas. The three crewmembers, meanwhile, have simple, hand-operated sail systems on deck. Twin 150-hp Yanmar engines will help the yacht maneuver in special situations, too.

Peter Wilson, co-founder of MCM Newport, has been overseeing construction since just prior to work starting. He cites KM Yachtbuilders’ “long track record in building go-anywhere yachts” as a bonus. “We look forward to testing Vinson in the brutal North Atlantic soon,” he adds.

KM Yachtbuilders kmy.nl

MCM Newport mcmnewport.com

Pelagic Yachts pelagic.co.uk

Tony Castro Design tonycastroyachts.com