The Norwegian sailor, Jarle Andhoy with three other men, sailed to the Antarctic illegally. One of the men is a New Zealander. They did not have permission from the Norwegian government or from New Zealand. They wanted to know what happened to the boat, the Berserk, which disappeared last year.
Mr Andhoy was in Antarctica a year ago with a companion, Samuel Massie. They did not have permission to be there. They were trying to cross the South Pole on quad bikes, following the path of the famous Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. They expected their support boat, the Berserk, to wait for them in McMurdo Sound but there was a terrible storm and the boat with three men on board, disappeared. The New Zealand Rescue Centre organized a search which involved Norway, the US and New Zealand but only a damaged, empty life boat was found. Mr Andhoy and Mr Massie were sent back to Christchurch by plane. Later Mr Andhoy was fined 25,000 Norwegian Kroner for his illegal journey.
One experienced sailor, who told Mr Andhoy not to go to the Antarctic, said, “Everybody has the right to die … but not to risk other people’s lives if you get into trouble.” Search and rescue in the Antarctic is very dangerous.
Mr Andhoy and the three other men on his boat have left Antarctica and are now sailing north, probably to Argentina. They will be in trouble if they try to land in New Zealand.
Vocabulary
• Antarctica or The Antarctic – both names are used
• illegal – breaking the law
• companion – another person travelling with him
• quad bike – four wheeler bike
Questions
Why is search and rescue dangerous in the Antarctic?
Why do people need permission to visit Antarctica?
Why is search and rescue dangerous in the Antarctic?
The temperature in the Antarctic is very dangerous, usually below 0 degree Celsius. In the winter, the continent is dark 24h a day. Moreover, the weather in this region is still difficult to predict.
It is really an interesting topic because it is first time I know about those sailors.