The Polar Sailing Workshop, organised by ‘Alegría Marineros Expediciones’ (Pedro Jiménez) and ‘Allende los Mares’ (Paula Gonzalvo), finished a few weeks ago. This is a sailing trip to the Antarctic in which the sailors or adventurers who participate in it are involved to the maximum in the team that is formed and in all the activities on board, both navigation and manoeuvring as well as learning.
Approximately 9 years ago, Paula Gonzalvo started her project ‘Allende los Mares’ and since then, first as crew member and then as captain, she has sailed on numerous sailing ships, more than 50,000 miles in seas and oceans, including the Atlantic and the Pacific, and in places as remote as Antarctica.
In addition, Paula Gonzalvo is the founder of the astronomical navigation voyage with sextant ‘Stella Oceani’, which has been held in several editions, and she organises and collaborates in multiple nautical activities, training workshops and events, such as the Sailing Encounters; which have made her a reference in the world of sailing.
We are very grateful to Paula Gonzalvo for sharing with us her experience in the Polar sailing workshops she has organised, in this interesting interview.
Interview with Paula Gonzalvo
Paula, how did you come up with the idea of organising a Polar Navigation Workshop, what are its objectives?
It arose from a trip to the Antarctic on which people embarked with different objectives. I was very surprised that they were not sailors and were facing one of the most dangerous seas in the world. It was a tourist and organised trip.
It was then that I saw a great opportunity to organise a voyage just for sailors, because I really thought it was a great gift to be able to experience this voyage from the sailor’s point of view and to be part of it.
That is why I proposed to Pedro, owner and founder of Alegría Marineros Expediciones, to organise a Polar Sailing Workshop in which only sailors would embark with the aim of taking part in all the roles on board and feeling part of a team.
Which route did you follow and which places did you visit during the workshops? If you had to choose one, what is the most beautiful or impressive place you explored?
This past January 2024 we visited the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, this time we went as far as latitude 66º South.
It is spectacular the life in Antarctica and arriving at these latitudes you can hardly see any cruise ships, unfortunately there are many in the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Shocking… the whole of Antarctica leaves you stunned. It is a changing landscape, everything moves around. This time when we went so far south we saw really gigantic icebergs, like buildings, we were very surprised.
What is life like on board in a polar workshop, can you tell us about the routine of a typical day, is there a good atmosphere and camaraderie on board?
We plan the voyage together before setting sail, we create the voyage plan together. We then review it daily when we download the weather to check if we can continue with it or if we have to modify it.
Life on board is determined as much by the weather as by the watches. In January it is daylight 24 hours a day.
The times when all the crew are together are breakfast, lunch and dinner. These are special moments of meeting, feedback, fears, storytelling and even dancing.
In general, the rhythm is set by the watch schedule. This is very important for taking responsibility on board and also for the management of rest. We all have tasks to fulfil on board on a daily basis.
And how lucky we were. There were 12 of us who decided to sail together to Antarctica. The atmosphere on board was spectacular, comradeship and team spirit in good times and bad, I think we all came out of this voyage really excited.
What is the boat (or boats) like on which you have conducted the workshops? What qualities or equipment would you highlight in a sailing boat that sails in high latitudes?
We have carried out workshops on both the schooner El Doblón (80ft steel) and the sailing yacht Copernico Doblón (68ft aluminium).
For sailing in high latitudes I would definitely emphasize the hull material: metallic, as well as relying 100% on the engine and rigging. It must be able to be self-sufficient for +20 days.
I would add very good heating and stowage possibilities (it is and can be many days of sailing).
What is the difference between sailing in Antarctica and sailing in other areas such as the Mediterranean? Are there any special precautions to take when sailing through ice?
Yes, I do find a few differences when sailing in the Antarctic versus the Mediterranean…;)
One is the landscape, in Antarctica everything is alive, you have to pay a lot of attention to the ice around you, both when anchoring and sailing. When sailing, you have to choose the right speed to steer without exposing yourself too much and, depending on the weather conditions, this is not always easy.
If sailing in general is ‘do it yourself’; Antarctica is another level, you are at least 500 miles from the nearest port.
How do you organise the weather forecast on board, does it affect your route planning?
The weather determines the day to day 100%. Every day, during breakfast, we usually review the weather together with the whole crew, where we agree on what we are going to do during the day.
If at that moment we contemplate adverse weather, we also review it during the day and at night to confirm the anchoring place.
In general, Antarctica tends to be calm, with few windy days and shelter is almost always available. You have to watch out for ice, currents and fog.
The most challenging part is always in the open sea, when we are about to sail the Sickle Sea, where you have to plan your strategy really well, wait for the window and… sail with 100% of your senses.
Have you encountered marine wildlife in Antarctica? Any special sightings?
A lot of wildlife. And the most special thing is that we ‘don’t care’. That is to say, the animals are in their habitat, they go about their daily lives without caring that we are there, or at least that is the impression. They are not afraid, they don’t run away like in other natural environments.
On this trip the main protagonists were the whales, we saw them almost every day. But also a multitude of penguins, birds and seals.
Can anyone participate in this type of workshop or is special preparation required?
You don’t need any special training or sailing experience, what you do need is the desire to be part of a crew and to have sailed before. On board, we distribute the tasks according to levels.
Paula, what would you say to someone who is thinking of signing up for an ocean sailing or adventure in remote places like Antarctica?
Don’t hesitate to do it. If it appeals to him, he should do it if the opportunity arises.
I would also tell him to do it with a prepared boat and a crew that he trusts, because it is not the place that makes these voyages an adventure, but also with whom and how you experience it, the atmosphere that is generated on board makes the difference without a doubth.
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We thank Paula Gonzalvo for sharing her experience and details of the Polar Navigation Workshops in Antarctica with all of us in this exciting interview, and wish her the best of luck and good sailing in the future.
