Badger

Badger

Iron Bark II

Iron Bark II

About Me

My photo
I first crossed the Atlantic in 1975 on 'Stormalong', a 28ft Wharram-designed catamaran. Back in the UK, Pete and I bought an ex 6-metre racing yacht, 'Sheila', living on her for 4 years. Wanting to do more and go further, we built 'Badger' - the best boat in the world - sailing her 110,000 miles, to the Arctic and the Antarctic, around the Atlantic North and South and into the Baltic. She had junk rig - the only rig I will ever now cruise with. Pete wanted to build a 38 ft junk-rigged catamaran, 'China Moon' - which he designed. But before the project was finished, we went our separate ways. A year later I joined Trevor Robertson aboard his 35ft 'Iron Bark'. We explored the Canadian Maritimes, crossed the Atlantic twice, wintered in Greenland and crossed the Pacific to Australia and New Zealand. I fell in love with NZ and jumping ship, bought my own boat while Trevor carried on voyaging. I put a junk rig onto ‘Fantail’ and, having decided that N Island offered better cruising opportunities than S Island, sailed up there in 2012. Looking for a boat to see me out, I built the 26ft 'FanShi' and now live on board her, pottering about, generally around the Bay of Islands.

Friday, 14 February 2025

ELSEHUL


54o01'S 37o58'W
Chart 3585, Elsehul


This bay is at the W end of South Georgia and provides good protection from the sea in the inner part. Although it appears to be open to the NW, by tucking into the W side of the inner bay, shelter from the NW can be found.

Anchor in about 6.5m, outside the kelp, off the beach. The bottom is fine sand and provides exceptionally good holding.

When we visited, we anchored in the E side of the inner bay, outside the kelp in 8.5m, thinking to shelter from a NE gale. The whole bay was subject to hurricane force gusts from the N, with a big swell setting in. The anchor to which we were lying did not budge an inch. In retrospect, we would have been better off anchored on the W side: the gusts were as violent, but there was much less swell.

An old BAS hut, used for seal studies in the past, stands on the beach on the W side of the harbour. It is in a rather poor state, but still habitable. Next to it, are three old trypots. A short walk over the low ground at the head of the bay, takes you to Undine Harbour on the S coast.


Water can be obtained from a stream at the NE corner of the inner bay.


ELSEHUL, LOOKING SE




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