contact us || sailboat seal || crew bios || testimonials || past expeditions || sitemap || mobile || blog
expedition sail home >> charter schedule >> antarctica || south georgia

expedition yacht seal

sailboat charters to antarctica & south georgia

"... a Cape Horner for the 21st century ..." Ocean Navigator, 2007

Welcome aboard Seal

Join us, as we put new soundings on the chart and explore hidden coves, relax in the raised saloon after a climb, or tie up right off the beach for the best views of wildlife.

With over 14 years sailing in high latitudes, Hamish Laird is one of the most experienced skippers in the business, and he has put that knowledge into all the details of the SEAL.

* A tough aluminum sailboat to support high-latitude expeditions

* Lifting keel & rudder for safety and convenience in uncharted waters

* Raised saloon with 360-degree views to make the most of the amazing scenery

-- Hamish & Kate Laird

film-making * mountaineering * birdwatching * hiking * general tourism
expedition support * scuba diving * sail training * scientific research

Discounted rates for scientific research projects

Looking for an adventure this year or next? Email us to find out what's open.

"Both [Kate and Hamish] are first-class seamen. I quickly develop a great respect for their quiet competence, their knowledge of the boat, and their love of the area."
-- Peter Nielsen in Sail, November 2007

latest news from SEAL:

3 May - Hamish has just returned from the annual IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) Conference in Uruguay. It was a particularly interesting meeting as there was much discussion of the future of Antarctic Tourism. Our future guests may be interested to know there's a possibility of travelling to and from Antarctica or South Georgia on a cruise ship and then joining SEAL for specialized projects. For many of our guests, the ocean crossing is a highlight of the expedition, but for others, it's pretty tough. For those people, organizing a cruise ship / yacht expedition may be the best of both worlds: a faster passage on a cruise ship, combined with the small boat experience or custom expedition support available only on yachts.

In addition, Expedition Sail has agreed to help Carbon Tree Conservation Fund, an initiative sponsored by Cheeseman's Ecology Safaris to help balance out the pollution caused by recreational travel by purchasing threatened blocks of rainforest. Travelling by sailboat is an extremely environmentally efficient way to travel, but of course our guests normally fly ten thousand miles or so to reach us. We'll donate the appropriate amount for each charter (typically we burn a ton of diesel in a five-week trip to Antarctica); we invite our guests to donate to cover the emissions from their plane flights, should they wish.

Read the Antarctica blog

"A sound boat is a combination of the ship itself and the skipper and crew that sail it. It is clear that Kate and Hamish work together as such a team, sharing tasks and contributing their own special skills to the task at hand. Their knowledge, experience and approach to problem solving place them in a class of their own, perfectly complemented by the magnificent boat they and Kanter Yachts have built. It is not hard to imagine sailing to Antarctica or any other place on earth aboard Seal, truly a Cape Horner for the 21st century."
-- Andy O'Grady in Ocean Navigator, March-April 2007

all pages © Kate & Hamish Laird 1999-2008

site map