TAAF permit
The expedition holds an authorisation from the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, the French authority for activities in Antarctica.
The expedition
Beyond 60° South
A full circumnavigation of Antarctica under sail, then the Antarctic Peninsula. A professional expedition, prepared for the most remote ocean on Earth.
The mission
Sail, observe, share
Around Antarctica sets out to sail all the way around the frozen continent in the high southern latitudes, far from any port, any rescue and any shipping lane.
On board, every day at sea is a day of observation. Wildlife, ocean and ice are recorded with scientific protocols and shared with researchers around the world.
And every mile is filmed, so that the public can follow an ocean almost nobody will ever see.
- Boat
- Malabar, 46-ft sailing yacht
- Crew
- Two: the Captain and a marine scientist
- Start of the expedition
- Puerto Williams, Chile
- Arrival
- Port Charcot, Antarctic Peninsula
- Permit
- French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF)
The route
A full circle of the frozen continent
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01
Port Napoléon, France
Winter refit. Every system on board doubled.
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02
Atlantic & Patagonia
The Captain sails solo to Tierra del Fuego.
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03
Puerto Williams, Chile
The scientist joins Malabar. The expedition begins.
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04
Beyond 60° South
Westbound circumnavigation of the continent. The loop closes where it began.
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05
Port Charcot, Antarctic Peninsula
Field research under TAAF permit.
Indicative route — subject to ice and weather.
Timeline
Five chapters
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01
Winter 2026–2027
The refit
Malabar is prepared at Port Napoléon, in the south of France. Every critical system is checked, reinforced and doubled.
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02
Departure
Single-handed to Patagonia
The Captain sails alone across the Atlantic to Tierra del Fuego — the delivery voyage is already an expedition in itself.
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03
Puerto Williams
The crew is complete
In the southernmost town in the world, the scientist joins Malabar. Final provisioning, final checks.
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04
The Southern Ocean
The circumnavigation
Across the Drake Passage, then westbound all the way around the continent, until the loop is closed.
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05
Antarctic Peninsula
Port Charcot
Field research along the Peninsula, in the bay where Jean-Baptiste Charcot wintered in 1904.
Exact dates will be announced closer to departure.
Commitments
Authorised, responsible, discreet
Antarctic Treaty
Everything on board follows the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol on Environmental Protection (Madrid Protocol).
Leave no trace
No waste left behind, strict biosecurity before every landing, and respectful distances from wildlife.
Science first
Observations follow published protocols, so that every record is useful to the scientific community.
Safety
Self-reliance as a rule
Below 60° South, help can be days or weeks away. Malabar is prepared to solve every problem on her own.
- Every critical system has its backup
- Satellite communications and weather routing on board
- Permanent ice watch and satellite ice imagery
- Spares, tools and skills to repair at sea
Join the voyage