Sailing to Antarctica on the Bark Europa
- Josiah Holwick
- Jan 12
- 2 min read
Sailing to Antarctica aboard the historic tall ship Bark Europa was an unforgettable adventure travel experience and a filmmaker’s dream. This Antarctica sailing expedition offered three weeks of non-stop action, with opportunities to capture breathtaking footage of penguins, seals, whales, and icy landscapes, making it a perfect setting for adventure travel video production and wildlife photography. Learning to sail on the Bark Europa was both challenging and rewarding, from hoisting sails and steering through Antarctic waters to mastering life aboard a traditional tall ship. James from Focus Wolf Productions, and collaborating with fellow crew members allowed me to refine my expedition filmmaking skills while documenting one of the most remote and dramatic regions on Earth. This transformational sailing adventure emphasized the excitement of exploration, the beauty of Antarctic wildlife, and the power of storytelling through film. For adventure travelers, nature photographers, and aspiring expedition filmmakers, a journey with the Bark Europa is a rare opportunity to experience true adventure travel while creating cinematic content in one of the planet’s most pristine environments.
The Drake Passage
Gateway to Antarctica - Sailing across the Drake Passage through stormy seas. The Drake Passage! The most powerful convergence of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans generating some of the world’s roughest seas. Steering at the helm of
Bark Europa while crashing through endless rolling waves was one of the most exhilarating experiences. I was inspired by Shackleton’s epic description as spoken in the voice over. Thank you Daniel and all other contributors for sacrificing their cameras to get the shot! Thank you to all contributors Quixote Expeditions, Bark Europa Crew, Daniel Korzhonov, Judith zoning, James Lock, ETC RO, Focus Wolf Productions
Just Like Shackleton
I used my grandpa's 8mm camera from the 60's and shot 2 rolls of film. I was lucky enough for the footage to develop! I feel it captures the spirit of original expeditions such as Shackleton. Produced by Focus Wolf “Using Magic” I’m relieved this 8mm film developed properly as it was an expensive gamble to use my Grandpa's Super8 from the 60's and cross my fingers the 6 minutes of expired B/W film was properly exposed. The anticipation was surreal waiting to see if my effort of carrying a 8mm camera during all land excursions only to film a few seconds sparingly documenting the 3 week trip. I love the authentic grungy look that was produced, it captures the vibe of early exploration 100 yrs ago on a similar vessel.
Antarctic Wildlife
My favorite aspect of Antarctica was the sheer amount of wildlife. These animals have evolved to thrive in some of the worlds harshest conditions creating a fragile ecosystem dependent on small krill.
360 Experience
(you can pinch the screen to zoom out, or use arrow keys). This is the closest I’ve felt to reliving the moment of sailing to the bottom of the earth. Enjoy!
Navigation with a Sextant
"Its called sextant, but there is nothing sexy about it”- Capt Klaas Gaastra. Learn from the legend, captain Klaas about the nautical tool used to navigate the seas in the eighteenth century.
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