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EXPEDITION TO ZAVODOVSKI - THE MOST REMOTE ISLAND?

Skip makes a memorable expedition sail to Zavodovski the most remote of the South Sandwich Islands

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EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS

Skip Novak travels in the wake of Cook and Bellingshausen to the South Sandwich Islands on the Pelagic 77 Vinson of Antarctica. The islands in the Southern Ocean are some of the most remote sailing destinations on the planet. Environmentally fragile, almost all of these subantarctic outliers are terrestrial protected areas within marine protected areas, where visits by cruisers are off limits. Pelagic Expeditions was granted the privilege to visit the South Sandwich Islands chain from the U.K. Foreign Office to conduct baseline surveys in four different science disciplines.Click for 3 mb pdf of the full article >>


ROCK COLLECTING ON SVALBARD

Skip Novak’s maiden voyage aboard the first Pelagic 77 Vinson of Antarctica was and expedition to collect rocks on Svalbard /Spitsbergen in March 2021

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ALBATROSS MISSION

Skip Novak’s final adventure on Pelagic Australis was a mission to save the albatross

 

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THE EMPTY OCEAN

Sophie O'Neill's story of a 4,500 mile winter Southern Ocean double handed voyage by Sophie O'Neill and Chris Kobusch from the Falklands to Cape Town on Pelagic Australis.

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DOWN FOR THE COUNT

Skip provided logistic support for an ambitious scientific mission to the remote South Sandwich Islands archeapeligo in the Southern Ocean

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WATCH THE BIRDIE

Rick Tomlinson leads a wildlife adventure photography expedition in the Falkland Islands on board Pelagic Australis

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CHRONICLES OF CRUISING CLUB OF AMERICA

Skip writes about acting as pilot on a superyacht round Cape Horn and the Beagle Channel

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CRUISING CLUB OF AMERICA JOURNAL - FALKLANDS IN CLOSE UP

Article by Magnus Day and Silvia Varela describing a cruise of the Falkland Islands on board Pelagic Australis which circumnavigated West Falkland visiting many remote locations and outposts

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CRUISING CLUB OF AMERICA JOURNAL 2019

Skip describes sailing to climb in South Georgia

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CRUISING CLUB OF AMERICA JOURNAL 2018

Skip tells of rescuing a yacht whilst cruising in Tierra del Fuego

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AQUIJO AROUND THE HORN

Skip sets a measured pace as he helps guide the world's largest ketch for a Christmas cruise around Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego

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THE FALKLANDS EFFECT

Magnus Day and Silvia Varela on how a farewell sail around this remote archipelago became a turning point in their lives together

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BEACHED IN PATAGONIA

An account by Skip of the rescue by Pelagic Australis and her crew of a yacht which had run aground in remotest Patagonia

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AUSTRAL VOYAGER

An account by Stephen Venables of a "Sailing to Climb " expedition to South Georgia

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FALKLAND ISLANDS CLOSE UP

A cruise of Falkland Island waters recounted by Magnus Day  and Silvia Varela written for the Chronicles of The Cruising Club of America Issue 59.

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SOUTHERN WIND 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

The story, see link below, that is not just the story of a sailor who is writing new chapters in the history of bluewater navigation but it’s also the tale of a long friendship: the one between Skip Novak and Marco Alberti, the general manager of the Southern Wind Shipyard .

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SAILING TO CLIMB

Following his receipt of the Tilman medal, Skip argues sailing should have an objective.

I have always thought that voyaging under sail is more gratifying when it has an underlying purpose. Floating about somewhat ad hoc across oceans from one paradise to the next has never been my cup of tea, although this is classic cruising as we know it. I realise that cruising as a means to kick back and relax has its place in the world, especially if you need a clean break from a full-on hectic working life.

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IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SHACKLETON

Ahead of a return to South Georgia later this year, legendary mountaineer Stephen Venables looks back on his previous recreations of Shackleton’s famous Antarctic crossing 100 years ago

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LARA'S YACHTING MONTHLY ARTICLE - SAILING TO ANTARCTICA IS CHILD'S PLAY

When Lara Novak sailed to Antarctica with her family she visited a continent rarely reached by children, but found a world of baby penguins, icy games and rough seas

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CCA VOYAGES ISSUE 58 2016 - VOYAGE OF THE LORD NELSON

Having sailed many miles in high latitudes over many years, the attraction of returning to Antarctica never diminishes in spite of often repeating familiar routes. In February 2012, I embarked on a cruise along one of those routes, but it was a completely different experience. I was going ‘square rig’ to Antarctica on the Lord Nelson, a British three-masted barque operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST). But that was not all: she is one of only two sail training ships worldwide that cater to a mix of able-bodied and disabled crew.

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SAILING USA ARTICLE - JOURNEY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD
When your father is around the world racer and high-latitude cruiser Skip Novak, it’s no surprise that a cruise to Antarctica is a family vacation, and 11-year-old Lara Novak chronicles the Christmastime journey

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SAILING ARTICLE - MY FIST TRIP TO ANTARCTICA BY LARA NOVAK
Lara Novak's debut as a journalist describing her first trip to Antarctica  to spend Christmas at Port Lockroy with a colony of Adelie penguins.

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YACHTING WORLD ARTICLE - WINTER EXPEDITION TO SOUTH GEORGIA 2015
A winter voyage to climb in South Georgia had seemed a great idea to Skip Novak on Pelagic Australis. But now ice was accumulating on deck.

No matter how well you think you have prepared for a voyage, there are always things that slip through the net. Usually they are minor items that didn’t make the final hitlist as preoccupied minds were concentrating on the big picture. On this occasion, halfway to South Georgia from the Falklands Islands, and having crossed the Polar Front, we were lacking an armoury of wooden mallets and rubber hammers for more Click for pdf


VOYAGES ARTICLE 2015

Skip writes about a Christmas family holiday spent on board Pelagic whilst making a BBC wildlife film Penguin Post Office in Antarctica.

 

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SWEDISH MAGAZINE PA KRYSS ARTICLE BY ROGER NILSSON TO SOUTH GEORGIA 2015

Ett mejl anlände i början av april: ”Roger, here is an opportunity for you. We are doing a deep winter trip on South Georgia. I and five
other climbers are being dropped for 12 to 14 days on the south end of the island for mountaineering. It is the trip of a life time, yet another. Yours, Skip.” Eventyraren i mig väcktes snabbt till liv. Click for pdf


SAILING MAGAZINE - FORCE 10 TO ANTARCTICA

Never one to pass up an opportunity to climb out of my comfort zone (something to do with a 62-year-old body trapped in the mind of a 25-year-old), I found myself questioning my judgment during the memorable morning of March 5, when, just west of the South Shetland Islands in the Antarctic, I found myself in a Force 10 northerly, barometer at 971 millibars, getting it right on the nose on our homeward-bound passage to Ushuaia, Argentina. Click for pdf


"L'Antartide di Lara Novak"


Skip's daughter Lara makes her debut as a journalist with an article in Italian about her trip to Antarctica last Christmas.

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"Yachting Matters interviews Skip"


A comprehensive 29 page interview with Skip from Autumn/Winter 2014 edition of Yachting Matters which follows his career to date.

 

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"BBC Natural World - Penguin Post Office TV documentary  "


First shown on BBC 2 on 24 July and now available for a time on BBC IPlayer until 14 Aug 14.

 

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"OCEAN CRUISING CLUB AWARDS DINNER SLIDES"


View pdf of slides related to Skip being awarded the Geoff Pack Memorial Award at teh Ocean Cruising Club's Awards dinner

 

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"INTREPID IN THE ICE"

“Tense and unnerving” is not how you’d expect Skip Novak to describe an Antarctic cruise. But even high-latitudes experts must have a first time, especially when inching along a swaying yard in a Force 7. And three weeks aboard the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s 55m barque Lord Nelson was always going to be much more than average expedition

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"FROM ICE CORES TO SUMMITS"

Article from Cruising Club of America's journal by Skip about his 2013/2014  season in Antarctica on Pelagic Australis and elsewhere filming on Pelagic.

 

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SOUTH GEORGIA HABITAT RESTORATION NEWSLETTER

Read about the restoration projects on South Georgia and help fund them through the South Georgia Heritage Trust

 

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YW & SKIP NOVAK STORM SAILING TECHNIQUES

Now Pelagic began to feel small. She was thrown around more readily, though never out of control. It was exhilarating stuff. We swept east under our tiny sailplan swinging wildly against the dark outline of Cape Horn. 

It was probably the most ambitious project Yachting World has ever undertaken: to head for Cape Horn with high latitudes doyen Skip Novak to make a series on heavy weather seamanship. Editor David Glenn reports from Tierra del Fuego... Download pdf>>
 


RECREATING SHACKLETON'S VOYAGE

Martin Thomas and seven friends chartered a yacht to retrace Shackleton’s legendary journey to South Georgia in 1916.When Sir Ernest Shackleton and his 27 crew were forced to abandon Endurance when she was crushed by Antarctic pack ice, they escaped in three small boats to Elephant Island. From there, six of them sailed a 22-footer, James Caird, 800 miles across the Southern Ocean.  From Yachting Monthly cruising log.

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ANTARTCTICA EN 30 DIAS

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"SESTANTE E PICOZZA"

Marco Morosini, alpinista, skipper e ricercatore il suo secondo viaggio australe attualmente al centro di una lunga serie di serate.  Download pdf>>

 


YACHTING MAGAZINE 45 ANNIVERSARY EDITION

 

"My Favourite Boat"
by Skip Novak

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MOUNTAINEERING IN ANTARCTICA

 

"Skip Novak Interview and Profile"
by Damian Gildea

 

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YACHTING MAGAZINE AUGUST 2011

 

"Sea Change"
by Mary South

 

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BLUE WATER SAILING MAGAZINE AUGUST 2011

 

"FIVE SAILING EXPEDITIONS"
by Valerie Meffert

 

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"ISLAND AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD"

 

Updated version of Stephen Venables' classic about South Georgia.  Download pdf>>


"ICE WITH EVERYTHING"

Article from Cruising Club of America's journal by Skip about a trip to Antarctica on Pelagic Australis. 

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TO ANTARCTICA WITH AUNTIE


Skip Novak was acccustomed to panicked requests for last-minute transport to the high latitudes aboard his 54-footer Pelagic. When one came from the BBC and TV presenter Neil Oliver, he was intrigued. When he learnt the destination was the remote South Orkney Islands in search of a pioneering Scottish scientist, he could not resist.

You don’t go to the South Orkney Islands for a sun soaked cruise. In fact, you don’t go at all without good reason. This Southern Hemisphere archipelago has a reputation for miserable weather,pack ice in summer and tricky sailing while groping around in mist. For the full story in pdf form see more>>


CAPE HORN TOUR 2012 ON THE PELAGIC AUSTRALIS

“My first objective for this expedition ‘to experience some weather’ has already been ticked.”

“It’s been a wonderful expedition, meeting and in many instances exceeding all expectations.”

“A real taste for sailing in these latitudes has definitely been acquired; the next challenge might be to assemble a crew to sail on Pelagic Australis from Ushuaia to South Georgia Island where the landscape and Antarctic wildlife is outstanding. Any takes?”

Blog Authors: Stephen Weir with help from David Hardy, David Mathlin, Steve Robson, Hunter Southwick, James Riley, James Johnson and Bill Hardy.  Read pdf of blog here>>


YACHTS AND YACHTING ARTICLE JANUARY 2012

 

Louay Habib caught up with Skip Novak during the Legends Regatta to discover tales of races past, races present, and life after the Volvo.

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SOUTH ORKNEYS WITH THE BBC

Skip's account of his expedition with a BBC film crew to the remote South Orkney Islnds written for the Cruising Club of America's Journal  

 

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RARE AIR

 

Yachting magazine article on sailing in the Falkland Islands

 

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YACHTING MAGAZINE AUGUST 2010

 

"In the Wake of Legends"
by Mary South

 

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"MUSTANGS RUN TO THE END OF THE WORLD"

Article from Cruising Club of America's journal by Tom Amory about his trip with 4 friends on board Pelagic to Cape Horn and the Beagle Channel. 

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“FACE TO FACE OCEAN PORTRAITS" 

Dr. Huw Lewis-Jone’s magnificently presented “Face to Face - Ocean Portraits.” includes a profile of Skip amongst 50 maritime personalities. See the PDF file for contact details on how to order 


UNDER SAIL IN THE FROZEN NORTH

 

NZ Herald article by Rob Fenwick


RAYMARINE RAYDAR NEWSLETTER
 

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CCA 2010 Newsletter

 

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SAILING MAGAZINE ARTICLE

 

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE
NOVEMBER 2008
 

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RAYMARINE NEWS

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