Based on a month-long semi-circumnavigation of the extremely remote western and southern coasts of Antarctica, this book documents the sights, sounds and history (both natural and human) on a once-in-a-lifetime journey by icebreaker in Antarctic waters.



It's divided into four sections, which roughly correspond to each week of the journey.



Week 1: Santiago to the Antarctic Peninsula

The notoriously rough Drake Passage crossing skirts a storm in the Yungan Basin to reach the Antarctic Peninsula, sighting first land near Brabant Island.



Week 2: The Phantom Coast

Aptly named, we get to discover why it's so called! Continuing south and west from the peninsula, a lucky few get to set foot on a little-visited Antarctic island (Peter 1 Øy).



Week 3: The Ross Sea

Continuing past the Ross Ice Shelf, we reach the icy inlet of McMurdo Sound, containing one of the greatest concentrations of historic huts in Antarctica and some present day research bases. But for me, the highlight is visiting the largest known colonies of Emperor and Adelie Penguins at Cape Washington and Cape Adare.



Week 4: Southern Ocean to Christchurch

Leaving the Antarctic continent, we encounter the lesser-known, (but just as rough!) crossing of the Southern Ocean, stopping at the sub-Antarctic isles of Campbell and Enderby where we get chased about by very territorial sea-lions!