Skip Novak
Concept Designer

Best known for his participation in four Whitbread Round the World Yacht Races since 1977, in addition to sailing, Skip is a skilled mountaineer. Wishing to combine both passions he built the expedition yacht Pelagic in Southampton in 1987 and has since spent every season in Antarctic waters, many of which leading combined climbing and filming projects.
He is frequently asked to comment on high latitude adventuring and ocean sailing by radio, TV and print media, and also a regular contributor to many sailing magazines worldwide.
Nowadays, Skip is widely considered one of the world’s preeminent authorities on polar sailing.

Tony Castro
Naval Architect & Yacht Designer

Over the years the name Tony Castro has become synonymous with boats that push the known boundaries of design, performance and innovation.
With a friendly charisma and business integrity, his talents are clearly shown through his numerous successes across all sectors of boat design, notably helping to transform the business success stories of many production boat builders worldwide.
40 years of continuous work, 10,000 boats on the water and 500 completed designs bear testament to the achievements of Tony Castro Design.

KM Yachtbuilders
Shipyard

KM Yachtbuilders is one of Europe’s leading shipyards in the construction of high-quality aluminium yachts. 
The company focuses mainly on yachts from about 15 to 30 meters in length. With over 80 yachts to its name, KMY has built a strong reputation based on uncompromising craftsmanship. 
The yard is one of few left with all boat building disciplines in-house; from aluminium construction, carpentry and outfitting to painting and rigging.
KMY yachts are built to make unique and sometimes extreme trips. Many of their yachts have been to the most remote parts of the world’s seas. In cold and uninhabited parts of the world, where sailors need to be able to rely on their yacht to the fullest.

Nicolás Ibáñez Scott
Chairman of Drake Foundation which is the promoter and principal backer of this social enterprise

Nicolás is a passionate of sailing and mountaineering.
Entrepeneur and driving force of the project.
He has developed Cedena sailing school in Puerto Williams with the purpose of promoting character building, leadership and sports amongst the younger generations.
He has imagined Pelagic 77’ as the next step, providing young people with a powerful tool to develop themselves in the virtues of responsibility, freedom, teamwork, independence, respect, solidarity and conservation.

Peter Wilson
Surveyor

Peter Wilson is the co-founder of Marine Construction Management (MCM), a firm that represents owners through the design, construction and trials of their yachts. With an extensive background, including yacht construction, inshore and offshore racing and blue water/high latitude cruising and expeditions, he monitored the construction of the Vinson from the time the first plate was cut through sailing trials.

Jordi Griso
Owner's Representative

Coming from kids sail racing background in the Med, he soon progressed to skipper of sail yachts. After years of sharing his passion for the sea and sailing as well as his knowledge, he began managing interesting and very genuine sailing projects.
He is an RYA instructor.
Passionate about ocean sail racing, he is a specialist in celestial and early navigation techniques.
As a liaison to the owner, he oversees the whole mission, and manages the many unfolding projects related to this very special polar expedition vessel.

The bare aluminum hull and deck structure is reinforced to withstand navigation in brash ice without deformation.

The schooner sail plan provides manageable sail handling in high winds and rough seas; and also redundancy, as the two mainsails are of equal size - the aft sail will fit on the forward mast.

A robust fixed keel with a solid aluminium machined centerboard allows for safe navigation in shoal waters.

Twin engines, with well protected propellers.

A workshop forward of the accommodation means running repairs can be made at sea.Hawser reels on in the transom and another on the foredeck can be used for shore anchors.

The bamboo interior joinery and furniture is comfortable yet hard-wearing and easy to maintain. Able to sleep 12, the yacht is designed for both private use and commercial chartering.

A sturdy gantry frame on the transom will carry an expedition RIB (a second RIB is stowed on deck) as well as the sat-nav antennae so in case of damage to the Axxon carbon masts, the yacht will not lose navigation and satellite communication capability. It also doubles as mainsail traveler track foundation.

A diesel stove in the spacious aft salon/dinette/galley provides efficient, reliable and comfortable heating to combat freezing temperatures. Radiators throughout the accommodations. During construction special attention was devoted to the insulation to combat the cold and condensation.