Spirit of Sydney

Spirit of Sydney was designed and built in an era when good racing performance was tempered by respect for the power of the mighty southern ocean. Consequently, she is a strong and powerful yacht with excellent all-round sailing ability and her tough aluminum construction and watertight bulkheads have given her a useful second life as an Antarctic Expedition yacht. She is an ocean greyhound with long clean lines and flared bow sections for surfing the big rollers of the southern ocean, offering an exhilarating experience for guests and crew alike.

 Services aboard

Cultural immersion on every voyage,  dining venues with ever-changing menus,  unlimited beverages, including fine wines, spirits and craft beers

• Length: 18.3 m
• Beam: 4.8 M
• Draught: 2.7 M

• Chart Class: Private expedition yacht
• Cruising Speed: 14.6 knots
• Year built: 1986 (refitted 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014 & 2019)

TECHNOLOGY & FUEL:

• Primarily sail-powered, with an auxiliary diesel engine used only for support and manoeuvring.
• Strong aluminium hull with watertight compartments and redundancy in most systems, built for the Southern Ocean.
• Small expedition yacht for just 9 guests, with a much lower footprint per passenger than traditional cruises.

CO2 Emissions
Very low emissions by design, as wind is the main source of propulsion and the diesel engine is used only as support. No formal carbon offsetting or emissions reporting has been published.

Waste Management
All waste is controlled onboard and offloaded at authorised ports under established protocols, in compliance with MARPOL and IAATO guidelines in polar zones. Fresh water use is very limited thanks to an onboard water maker, with restricted discharge in sensitive areas. Plastic consumption is kept to a minimum, although there is no formal plastic-free programme.

Citizen Science Programs
Has supported university research projects, such as humpback whale tagging, as well as documentaries and private scientific expeditions. Wildlife observation and basic environmental data recording take place during voyages, although there is no formal citizen science programme.

Local First Initiative / Communities
Based in Ushuaia, operations rely on local logistics for fuel, port services and provisioning, with a small international and local crew. Member of IAATO, supporting responsible tourism practices in Antarctica.