Antarctic adventurers go South again

by Alastair Douglas on 18 Feb 2004 Sunshine Coast yacht designer Robin Chamberlin (52), and Devonport pharmacist Terry Travers (45), who in 1999 became the only people to sail a catamaran inside the Antarctic Circle, have embarked on a south-bound challenge of a different kind.

Departing from Brisbane’s East Coast Marina in the Manly Boat Harbour at 10 a.m. Thursday 19th February, the pair and two crew mates will be attempting the Eco-Marine Challenge of more than 1000 miles non-stop to Hobart aboard Bill Brosnan’s Chamberlin 47 power cat ‘Foreign Affair’.

The challenge aims to encourage efficient, environmentally-responsible boating using minimal fuel and power. With a time frame of just over three days for the 1020 nautical mile voyage, they are seeking to use less than 1.8 litres of diesel fuel per nautical mile – a standard not attained in the current crop of pleasure power boats. This combination of efficiency, distance, and speed has not been achieved previously.

A weather window has appeared for the dash south but it will still require the boat to punch through a cold front on the southern NSW coast late on Friday.

Once in Hobart, the boat will be used to support the 38’ catamaran ‘Ice Cat Excess’ entry in the Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race, along with their bid to raise funds for local Tasmanian charity, Orana Respite Centre.

Arrival in Hobart is scheduled for early Sunday morning. As part of their Three Peaks Race preparations, the two ageing adventurers will then attempt the 35km Mount Wellington run in preparation for the main event at Easter – training mishaps excepted.

Further details, regular updates, as well as plotted position reports, will be available on their website www.icecat.com.au