ARCTIC Schichau Unterweser

  • Inspiration

ARCTIC has 4 Photos

Arctic P - Photo Credit E. Wiegers

French Polynesia

Arctic news.

77m explorer yacht LA DATCHA ready for guests looking for an adventure-filled charter vacation around the world

77m explorer yacht LA DATCHA ready for ...

Similar yachts.

 Luxury Yacht CLOUD 9

SAMSARA | From EUR€ 1,100,000/wk

  • Yachts >
  • All Yachts >
  • All Motor Yachts Over 100ft/30m >

If you have any questions about the ARCTIC information page below please contact us .

Luxury explorer yacht ARCTIC P is an impressive 88-metre vessel, which has received an extensive refit in 2015, which lasted 7 months. The refit was performed at the Navantia Shipyard in Spain, whereas ARCTIC P superyacht was originally built in Germany at Schichau-Unterweser, and launched in 1969. She has also received various refits in the previous years.

NOTABLE FEATURES: Explorer style yacht ~ Long range cruising ~ Luxury finishes ~ Excellent array of amenities ~ 28 dedicated crew ~ Jacuzzi ~ Stabilizers

It is important to note that in 2014/2015 mega yacht Arctic P has received a complete refit of the bridge, engine control room and the gallery. It has also received an installation of new and significantly more fuel-efficient propellers, as well as a major overhaul of the vessel's beach club.

The beach club includes a swimming pool, jacuzzi and a dining table, all installed in 2015. The pool, jacuzzi and the dining table are convertible into a flush deck so the beach club presents a clean flat teak space, which can be used as a huge entertainment area.

The glass bottom of the pool, and the track bottom of the jacuzzi sink into the deck and the spaces then fill with water. On the other side of the beach club, the dining table rises from the deck into two sections, a smaller round section, to which another piece can be added to create a large oval table. This is very well suited for dining or gatherings and parties. The entire deck conversion takes less than five minutes.

ARCTIC Specifications

The owner pays great attention to safety on board, especially thinking of the safety of children, who are often on board mega yacht Arctic P. There is a removable railing, which separates the jacuzzi and pool area from the rest of the deck space when in use. When the jacuzzi and the pool are in the flush-deck position, the railings can be entirely removed to open up the space.

Accommodation on board Expedition Yacht ARCTIC P is provided to 12 guests and there is a crew of 25 members on board.

Yacht Accommodation

Twelve guests will find comfortable and luxurious accommodation aboard 88m mega yacht ARCTIC P.

Amenities and Extras

Tenders & Toys: Tenders: ~1x Endeavour 42 (13.96m, Capacity:12 persons) ~1x Custom Tender (12.68m, Capacity:14 persons) ~1x DONZI ZFXO (11.6m ,Capacity:12 persons) ~1x SEADOO Challenger - 210 Challenger* SE (6.25m, Capacity :10 person) ~1x Riva 33ft (Capacity :12 person) ~1x Brigg 55 (5.5m , Capacity:6 person) ~1x Vanguard DR760 (7.6m ) ~2x MK4 HD 5.3m Zodiac ~9x Jet Skis: ~6x - 2021 Sea-Doo PWC SPARK TRIXX 2UP 65mb ~2x 2013 Sea Doo PWC GTR 215 ~1x 2013 Yamaha Superjet Other toys: ~2x Sea Kayaks – Cobra Explorer 2 metre (Capacity:2 person) ~1x Windsurfer – Starboard 60-70 ~8 xSurfboards : ~1 X Manta Body board (51ve07) ~1 X Manta Body board (Pro XT) ~1 X Bic Sport Peter Pan Mal ~1 X Bic Sport Gerard Dabbadie Mini Mal ~1 X Bic Sport Gerard Dabbadie Mini Mal ~1 X Bic Sport Gerard Dabbadie Thruster ~1 X South Bay Board Co. - Hybrid Surfboard (6' Shortboard) ~1 X South Bay Board Co. 9'6 Tortuga Hybrid Surfboard (Longboard) Water Skis’ / Wake Boards: ~1 x HO Sports HOT SHOT TRAINERS ~1 x HO SPORTS–67" Ranger Combo Waterskis ~1 x HYPERLITE–119 Rebel Youth Wakeboard ~1 x HYPERLITE–140 Rebel Wakeboard Inflatables ~1 x JOBE SHARK TRAINER TOWABLE 1P ~1 x Jobe Sonar 4-Rider Towable Paddle boards ~2 x VOYAGER–10'6" Voyager Inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboard ~2 x Starboard 2012 SUP AST SILVER CRUISER 12'0 x 32" Seabobs ~2 x Cayago AG, Seabob F5 SCUBA regulators/ BCD’S ~15 x SCUBAPRO ‘GLIDE’ bcd’s (various sizes) ~10 x SCUBAPRO MK25/G260 din regulator’s w/alternate air source ~10 x SCUBAPRO one dive computer’s w/SPG & compass ~15 x SCUBAPRO Caribbean wetsuits (various sizes)

ARCTIC Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht ARCTIC displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

Quick Enquiry

88m explorer superyacht ARCTIC P

B2 | From EUR€ 850,000/wk

The 86m Yacht CHAKRA

CHAKRA | From EUR€ 495,000/wk

Superyacht And Tender

86M CUSTOM LUXURY YACHT | From EUR€ 1,200,000/wk

arctic p superyacht

Find anything, super fast.

  • Destinations
  • Documentaries

We don't have any additional photos of this yacht. Do you?

Arctic P Specifications

  • Name Arctic P
  • Model Custom
  • Flag Bahamas
  • Hull NB 1746
  • Hull Colour -
  • Naval Architect Schichau Unterwesser
  • Exterior Designer Kusch Yachts
  • Interior Designers C. Kidston A. Sassoon
  • Length Overall 87.6m
  • Length at Waterline 78.0m
  • Draft (min) -
  • Draft (max) 7.3m
  • Gross Tonnage 2610
  • Cabins Total -
  • Hull Configuration -
  • Hull Material Steel
  • Superstructure -
  • Deck Material Teak
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Manufacturer DEUTZ-MWM
  • Model RBV 12M 640
  • Power 6595 hp / 4853 kW
  • Total Power 6595 hp / 4853 kW
  • Propulsion Single Screw
  • Max Speed 22 Kn
  • Cruising Speed 20 Kn
  • Range 20000
  • Fuel Capacity 1400000
  • Water Capacity -
  • Generator 3 x Deutz /Struver 640 kW
  • Stabilizers -
  • Thrusters Tornado
  • Amenities -
  • Yacht Builder Schichau Unterwesser No profile available
  • Naval Architect Schichau Unterwesser No profile available
  • Exterior Designer Kusch Yachts View profile

Yacht Specs

Other schichau unterwesser yachts.

  • Yachts for sale
  • Yachts for charter
  • Brokerage News

yacht Arctic P

  • Yacht Harbour
  • Yacht Arctic P

About Arctic P

Contact agent.

yacht Arctic P

Specifications

Similar yachts.

Sahara

New listings

Custom Line Navetta 42

Please use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.

  • Landing Page
  • Luxury Yacht Vacation Types
  • Corporate Yacht Charter
  • Tailor Made Vacations
  • Luxury Exploration Vacations
  • View All 3567
  • Motor Yachts
  • Sailing Yachts
  • Classic Yachts
  • Catamaran Yachts
  • Filter By Destination
  • More Filters
  • Latest Reviews
  • Charter Special Offers
  • Destination Guides
  • Inspiration & Features
  • Mediterranean Charter Yachts
  • France Charter Yachts
  • Italy Charter Yachts
  • Croatia Charter Yachts
  • Greece Charter Yachts
  • Turkey Charter Yachts
  • Bahamas Charter Yachts
  • Caribbean Charter Yachts
  • Australia Charter Yachts
  • Thailand Charter Yachts
  • Dubai Charter Yachts
  • Destination News
  • New To Fleet
  • Charter Fleet Updates
  • Special Offers
  • Industry News
  • Yacht Shows
  • Corporate Charter
  • Finding a Yacht Broker
  • Charter Preferences
  • Questions & Answers
  • Add my yacht

Arctic Charter Yacht

View More Photos

  • Luxury Charter Yachts
  • Motor Yachts for Charter
  • Amenities & Toys
  • Rates & Regions
  • + Shortlist

ARCTIC YACHT CHARTER

87.6m  /  287'5   schichau unterweser   1969 / 2020.

  • Previous Yacht

Special Features:

  • Heated beach house pool
  • Expansive sundeck with umbrellas, sunbeds and extendable diving platform
  • Large swim platform
  • State-of-the-art cinema
  • Owner's deck complete with library, games room and sun lounge area
  • Monkey island top deck
Legendary explorer yacht ARCTIC's impressive amenities and unrivalled toy selection ensures guests are ready for an epic luxury adventure

The award winning 87.58m/287'4" expedition yacht 'Arctic' by shipyard Schichau Unterweser offers flexible accommodation for up to 12 guests in 7 cabins.

Built in 1969, Arctic is made for thrilling adventure and exploration in the most remote places around the globe. Her features include a movie theatre, beach club and gym.

Guest Accommodation

Arctic offers guest accommodation for up to 12 guests in 7 suites. Excellent service is guaranteed, with twenty-eight crew members on board to look after your every need.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Keeping comfortable and entertained on Arctic is easy thanks to the available amenities including a state-of-the-art movie theatre for movie nights. Take a plunge in the pool under the sun and head to the beach club and take advantage of indoor-outdoor living and entertaining. Maintain your fitness routine and work out in the well-equipped gym.

Whatever your activities on your charter, you'll find some impressive features are seamlessly integrated to help you including Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to stay connected at all times, should you wish. Guests will experience complete comfort while chartering thanks to air conditioning.

Performance & Range

Built with a steel hull and steel superstructure, she offers greater on-board space and is more stable when at anchor thanks to her full-displacement hull. Powered by twin Deutz engines, she comfortably cruises at 12 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 19 knots with a range of up to 17,000 nautical miles from her 1,400,000 litre fuel tanks at cruising speed.

When not cruising Arctic has onboard an incredible selection of water toys and accessories for you and your guests to connect with the waters around you. Principle among these are waterslides letting guests speed from the sun deck to the water in seconds. Take to the sea on the Jet Skis offering you power and control on the water. Also there are two waterskis that are hugely entertaining whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. If that isn't enough Arctic also features a seabob, wakeboards, kayaks, a WindSurfer, scuba diving equipment and much more. Arctic features five tenders, but leading the pack is a 14m/45'11" Endeavour Limo Tender to transport you in style.

Based in the magical waters of the South Pacific all year round Arctic is ready for your next luxury yacht charter. Let Arctic Discover the magical places, food and experiences of the the South Pacific.

With a highly experienced and talented crew of 28, you can be sure that each and every need will be met and exceeded while on board this prestigious expedition yacht.

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for Arctic, please provide .

Arctic Photos

Arctic Yacht 11

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Arctic has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Arctic is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

  • 1 x 14m  /  45'11 Endeavour Limo Tender
  • 1 x 13m  /  42'8 Custom Tender
  • 1 x 12m  /  39'4 Donzi ZFXO Tender
  • 1 x 10m  /  32'10 Riva Tender
  • 1 x 6m  /  19'8 Seadoo Sports Tender

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

Arctic Awards & Nominations

  • The World Superyacht Awards 2015 Voyager’s Award Winner
  • + shortlist

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Arctic' Charter Rates & Destinations

South Pacific Summer Cruising Region

Summer Season

May - September

€450,000 p/week + expenses Approx $490,000

High Season

€500,000 p/week + expenses Approx $544,500

Cruising Regions

South Pacific Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea

South Pacific Winter Cruising Region

Winter Season

October - April

Charter Arctic

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker or

Update your yacht

Yacht Owner, Captain or Central Agents - Send us latest Photos, Charter Rates or Corrections Contact Us

SIMILAR YACHTS FOR CHARTER

Bleu De Nimes charter yacht

Bleu De Nimes

72m | Clelands Shipbuilding Co

from $534,000 p/week ♦︎

Bold charter yacht

85m | SilverYachts

from $953,000 p/week ♦︎

Cloudbreak charter yacht

75m | Abeking & Rasmussen

from $817,000 p/week ♦︎

Enigma XK charter yacht

71m | Richards Shipbuilders

from $316,000 p/week ♦︎

Force Blue charter yacht

71m | Royal Denship

from $392,000 p/week ♦︎

Huntress charter yacht

76m | Lurssen

from $725,000 p/week

La Datcha charter yacht

77m | Damen Yachting

from $740,000 p/week

Legend charter yacht

77m | IHC Verschure

from $648,000 p/week ♦︎

Naia charter yacht

74m | Freire Shipyard

from $595,000 p/week

Nautilus charter yacht

73m | Picchiotti

from $816,000 p/week ♦︎

Planet Nine charter yacht

Planet Nine

73m | Admiral Yachts

from $650,000 p/week

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

SEASONAL CHARTER RATES

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share Yacht

SIMILAR LUXURY CHARTER YACHTS

Here are a selection of yachts which are similar to the current charter yacht. To view all similar luxury charter yachts click on the button below.

 charter yacht

As Featured In

The YachtCharterFleet Difference

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

San Francisco

  • Like us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Find us on LinkedIn
  • Add My Yacht
  • Affiliates & Partners

Popular Destinations & Events

  • St Tropez Yacht Charter
  • Monaco Yacht Charter
  • St Barts Yacht Charter
  • Greece Yacht Charter
  • Mykonos Yacht Charter
  • Caribbean Yacht Charter

Featured Charter Yachts

  • Maltese Falcon Yacht Charter
  • Wheels Yacht Charter
  • Victorious Yacht Charter
  • Andrea Yacht Charter
  • Titania Yacht Charter
  • Ahpo Yacht Charter

Receive our latest offers, trends and stories direct to your inbox.

Please enter a valid e-mail.

Thanks for subscribing.

Search for Yachts, Destinations, Events, News... everything related to Luxury Yachts for Charter.

Yachts in your shortlist

Yacht, IMO 1006207

  • VesselFinder
  • Miscellaneous

The current position of ARCTIC P is at South Pacific Ocean reported 16 hours ago by AIS. The vessel arrived at the port of Papeete, French Polynesia on Mar 8, 21:00 UTC. The vessel ARCTIC P (IMO 1006207, MMSI 308753000) is a Yacht built in 1970 (54 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Bahamas .

ARCTIC P photo

Position & Voyage Data

Map position & weather, recent port calls, vessel particulars.

ARCTIC P current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of ARCTIC P data.

arctic p superyacht

  • हिंदी मराठी বাংলা

Inside the Arctic P — Business Tycoon James Packer’s Million Dollar Superyacht

arctic p superyacht

Titled one of the largest superyachts in the world, the Arctic P, owned by billionaire James Packer, is currently making headlines after he offered it to his fiancée Mariah Carey. The business tycoon, who vacationed in Europe all through summer with Mariah, has often been spotted travelling across the globe on this yacht. 

From having a private helipad to well-decorated interiors, this yacht is nothing less than a luxurious floating mansion. Read on to know more about this celebrity-owned luxe vessel.

Read iDiva for the latest in Bollywood, fashion looks, beauty and lifestyle news.

arctic p

Built by German company Schichau Seebeckwerft back in 1970, the Arctic P can cover a maximum distance of 18,000 nautical miles at 20 knots speed. The vessel measures 287 feet and can comfortably accommodate 12 guests, a total of 25 people including crew members. Rumoured to be Packer’s most prized possession, the superyacht was inherited by the business tycoon from his father Kerry Packer.

arctic p

Refitted in 2014, the superyacht boasts of a new super-steel structure which makes the yacht strong enough to dribble through ice floes in the southern ocean. With white exteriors and an electric blue hull, the superyacht looks visually stunning, and stands out amidst the other white-dyed vessels.

arctic p

The vessel features a stunning master suite with six separate accommodations spread over two levels on the deck. Designed by renowned interior decorator duo C. Kidston and A. Sassoon, the handcrafted furniture on the superyacht is furbished in rich upholstery. The wooden floors are adorned with fine rugs, while the floor-to-ceiling glass doors offer guests an unparalleled view of the ocean.

arctic p

While many superyachts own motor boats and sea bikes, the Arctic P is well-equipped to hold a private helicopter as it has a helipad on its deck. 

arctic p

Apart from stunning suites and the private helipad, the yacht also features an observation tower, amphitheatre, Jacuzzi and swimming pool. In fact, Packer is known to have hosted many celebrity parties on this yacht.

Arctic P

Talking of celebrities, this yacht has also hosted personalities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Miranda Kerr, Kelly Rohrbach, Alan Jones and more. 

More On >> Yachts 

Here's what people are reading

Take our fun quiz to match mr. perfectionist aamir khan's on-screen outfits to his films, saif-kareena fans, try our toughest quiz on the movie ‘kurbaan’ as it completes 14..., try & guess at least 5/10 of these indian mithais by just looking at their pictures, related stories, 7 celebrity-approved glam ways to style shawls & wraps with ethnic wear, 7 stylish ways to rock a crop top as a plus-size girl, 8 best earphones to amplify your workout routine, 7 celeb-approved chic ways to enhance your outfits with ethnic belts.

Boat logo

The global authority in superyachting

  • NEWSLETTERS
  • Yachts Home
  • The Superyacht Directory
  • Yacht Reports
  • Brokerage News
  • The largest yachts in the world
  • The Register
  • Yacht Advice
  • Yacht Design
  • 12m to 24m yachts
  • Monaco Yacht Show
  • Builder Directory
  • Designer Directory
  • Interior Design Directory
  • Naval Architect Directory
  • Yachts for sale home
  • Motor yachts
  • Sailing yachts
  • Explorer yachts
  • Classic yachts
  • Sale Broker Directory
  • Charter Home
  • Yachts for Charter
  • Charter Destinations
  • Charter Broker Directory
  • Destinations Home
  • Mediterranean
  • South Pacific
  • Rest of the World
  • Boat Life Home
  • Owners' Experiences
  • Interiors Suppliers
  • Owners' Club
  • Captains' Club
  • BOAT Showcase
  • Boat Presents
  • Events Home
  • World Superyacht Awards
  • Superyacht Design Festival
  • Design and Innovation Awards
  • Young Designer of the Year Award
  • Artistry and Craft Awards
  • Explorer Yachts Summit
  • Ocean Talks
  • The Ocean Awards
  • BOAT Connect
  • Between the bays
  • Golf Invitational
  • Boat Pro Home
  • Pricing Plan
  • Superyacht Insight
  • Product Features
  • Premium Content
  • Testimonials
  • Global Order Book
  • Tenders & Equipment

Explorer yacht Arctic P sets world record for furthest voyage south

Arctic P and the furthest voyage south ever undertaken

Looking for the ultimate Christmas gift? We show you how to make the most of your superyacht vacation by planning a true adventure, just like the account of Arctic P_'s southern voyage below. You'll find this – and more Christmas gift ideas – in the December issue of _ Boat International , out now.

To the uninitiated, an Antarctic voyage sounds like a pilgrimage that a person makes once, a life-changing but one-time isolation emersion. But those who have visited the bottom of the world often return home infected with a passion for this seemingly alien region. Water moves differently there; ice does weird things; you can see unnaturally far into the distance; even light and sound are altered. Its strange glamour pulls adventurers back, as Sir Ernest Shackleton described in the poem that he scrawled in a visitor’s book in Chile, in 1916: “We were the fools who could not rest/In the dull earth we left behind/But burned with passion for the South/And drank strange frenzy from its wind.”

A century later, the appeal of the south seems just as potent. “It is like nowhere else I have ever seen. It is so vast and humanity has had so little impact there – it is somehow mesmeric.” This repeat visitor is a member of the family that owns the 88 metre explorer vessel Arctic P .

On their first visit in 2013, the boat journeyed from the Falkland Islands to the Antarctic Peninsula. Humpback whales nosed around the hull, the boat skirted monolithic tabular icebergs and guests wandered among vast penguin colonies, before flying out from King George Island. It was the furthest south a private vessel had gone for years. But it wasn’t far enough. “They said, let’s do a real expedition this time, go where no one else has been,” says captain Russell Pugh, recalling his subsequent conversation with the owner’s family. “Let’s do the Ross Sea.”

On the opposite side of the Antarctic continent to the first, this expedition would run south from Tasmania to McMurdo Sound, then veer off east to skirt the Ross Ice Shelf, into profound isolation. This voyage of more than 5,000 nautical miles would take them to a significantly wilder part of the Antarctic. It was a serious proposition.

“Nobody would have got to us [if we’d got into trouble far east on the Ross Ice Shelf],” says co-captain Ronnie Maclean. “McMurdo is the nearest base, nearly 400 nautical miles away, and I don’t think a helicopter’s got that range. If they got to us they wouldn’t be able to fly back without refuelling. It would have to be a land-based trip to get us and at that distance. How long would it take, how long would you survive the conditions? That’s why not many people go out there.”

As Pugh notes, the prospects of rescue by sea were no more promising. “ Arctic P was built as a salvage tug – that’s what she was designed to do, so if we can’t get out, no one can get in to get us.”

Arctic P ’s qualifications are the main reason that this expedition was even conceivable. Built in 1969 by Schichau Unterwesser in Bremerhaven, her pre-conversion career included the rescue of commercial expedition vesse_l Lindblad Explorer_, which ran aground at Plaza Point in the Antarctic in 1972. The current owner’s family bought her in 1993 and undertook a rebuild in Malta, overseen by Klaus Kusch, and a number of upgrades since. Despite her now superyacht-standard interiors, Arctic P is still a serious explorer vessel.

“We have 50mm steel plating on the bow and 30mm on the ice line. It’s ridiculously thick and ridiculously heavy,” says Pugh. Fitting stabilisers voided her Ice Class, but as Pugh notes, “She was built to be the strongest, toughest salvage rescue vessel in the world,” and she lives up to her promise.

Equally important to the trip were those on board. As well as a permanent crew used to far-flung cruises there were two captains: Maclean, who normally works on rotation with Pugh, came along to share shifts and to take care of the tenders (there are five). Arctic P also took on an ice pilot, captain Uli Demel, a master mariner with extensive experience of ice: what it is doing and why, which ice is safe to break through and which to avoid. There was an expedition guide who gave talks on the history and biology, a historian and biologist to give lectures and even a wilderness-trained doctor in case of a medical crisis far from help.

Another important outsider was Tim Soper, founder of adventure specialist EYOS Expeditions, who helped plan the voyage and get the special permits required to visit the region. He would be expedition leader, in charge of off-ship activities and safety ashore. The team was uniformly rugged and well-prepared – even the doctor had climbed one of the highest mountains in Antarctica in his early 20s and holds the world record for the highest base jump.

“We were always in a state of readiness,” says Pugh. “Once you’re down in this region you still have internet by a pilot system, but it’s pretty sketchy and very slow. You can get ice charts to see if the ice is changing, but it’s just a case of watching the weather. If the pressure drops you know there’s something not good around. So, you get out.”

Thanks to Arctic P ’s 1.4 million-litre fuel capacity, they were able to keep the engines running constantly, for the entire journey – more than 5,000 nautical miles – because as Pugh says, “The chief engineer was worried that if we stopped them, they’d cool down too much and take too long to heat up to get away in an emergency.”

The most memorable moments were possibly the sea crossings – there were enormous waves crashing onto the ship and even reaching the bridge

Captain Russell Pugh

After a stop at Macquarie Island to see king and royal penguins, Arctic P headed for the pack ice, guided by satellite imagery and altering course to avoid southern ocean storms. Whenever the party went ashore the crew took survival gear – tents, rations – on the off chance the weather closed in and they were unable to return to the vessel.

That same night they saw their first iceberg – 25 metres high and 80 metres wide. In the morning, the sea was full of them. On day 13, after waiting out strong winds off the Balleny Islands, they started south again and made a Champagne toast as they crossed the Antarctic Circle and passed through the pack ice. Much of the journey covered the open ocean, and for one young member of the family, these parts were a highlight. “The most memorable moments were possibly the sea crossings – there were enormous waves crashing onto the ship and even reaching the bridge,” he says.

The boat hugged the Antarctic coast as she journeyed south, stopping, most notably, at Shackleton’s and Scott’s huts, which another family member describes as “extraordinary. There was something indescribable about them. The silence, the layout, the mementos from home – the silence was profound”.

Scott’s hut, at the foot of Mount Erebus, was particularly charged with pathos because of its role in his fatal attempt to reach the South Pole: it is the base they never returned to. Arctic P ’s log describes the “beds still ready to be slept in and provisions ready to be cooked; pictures of dogs and cartoons of the time on the walls”. As captain Pugh puts it, “When you walk in you feel like they just walked out of the door, moments before you.” They traced the overpowering smell of the place to a stack of 100-year-old seal blubber in the stables, and outside found the skeleton of a dog, still at leash.

The next stop – the US McMurdo Station, a research facility housing 1,200 people – was an incongruous patch of civilisation before the guests and crew plunged into true isolation, west along the Ross Ice Shelf. “The Ross Ice Shelf is an area of floating ice about the size of France,” says Soper.

“What we see of it is a 50 metre-high ice cliff that runs for 400 nautical miles. It takes over 24 hours to sail the length of it. You just look in awe out the window as this thing goes on and on.”

But there was a definite purpose to this particular leg of the journey. It had been a warm summer and it was likely that the ice shelf – once known as the Great Ice Barrier because ships could not get south of it – may have melted back at its eastern end, allowing them to travel further south than any other vessel in history. “We didn’t know if we could do it or were going to waste two days going there and back,” says Pugh. “We made a decision at Scott’s base.”

The signs weren’t good: contrary to their charts, the shelf had grown north, rather than receding south. But just before they reached the Bay of Whales the ice line dropped away and the bay itself scooped far into the shelf. “The whole time, we were thinking we were not going to make it, because the ice line was many miles further north than we had hoped, but then the lines crossed and we suddenly realised, ‘Oh, we can do this, we can really do this.’” They set the new world record at 78° 43.0336’ S 163° 42.1317’ W – just 677 nautical miles from the South Pole.

Guests and crew celebrated by decking the yacht in the flags of every nation represented on board and drinking a toast on the foredeck. But it wasn’t just the record that captured their imaginations. “It felt significantly different,” says Pugh. “You think: ‘This is the Antarctica that we read about. High ice-cliffs, seals, emperor penguins.’ We had a pod of porpoises swimming around, killer whales and then a few minke whales came in. It was bright sunshine, really one of the most glorious days of the whole trip.”

There was nowhere to anchor so Pugh ran the boat gently against the ice, engines running, and got the guests and crew ashore via Zodiac. “There was a light swell and the ice was moving up and down really gently,” recalls Soper. “We hiked over to a viewpoint on top of an iceberg that was frozen fast into the ice. It was just spectacular.”

At minus 19 degrees Celsius, the temperature was equally remarkable. Freezing spray hit Maclean over and over as he bumped along in the tender, encasing him in ice – to the amusement of the crew – while snow dust blowing hard off the shelf while he was clutching a camera left his fingers “frost nipped” and tingling for two days – even through thick gloves. Indeed, when the sea formed into pancakes of ice around the boat, and when those pancakes started to join up, Pugh said: “I think we better get out of here before we’re frozen in.”

The journey back ended in Dunedin, new Zealand, via the Italian research base Terra Nova (where they were served coffee and biscotti ) and Cape Adare to see the largest Adélie penguin rookery in the world. They also visited the huts where, just over 100 years ago, the first explorers spent winter in Antarctica.

There can be few places in the world where a century later, visitors are still as utterly unreachable, so profoundly alone as the far reaches of coastal Antarctica. And that is undoubtedly part of its appeal: “It was like being on the moon,” Maclean recalls of the Bay of Whales. “The sun was shining – not a cloud in the sky. You’re at a place where perhaps nobody’s ever walked. I can’t describe the sensation. It was just – a lonely planet, you know?”

Pictures courtesy of Captain Ronald Maclean, Paul Crierie, Tim Sopernd and Dr Glenn Singleman

More about this yacht

Yachts for charter, more stories, most recent, from our partners, sponsored listings.

IMAGES

  1. ARCTIC P Yacht • Gretel Packer $80M Superyacht

    arctic p superyacht

  2. Yacht ARCTIC P, Schichau-Unterweser

    arctic p superyacht

  3. ARCTIC P Yacht Photos

    arctic p superyacht

  4. Schichau-Unterweser GmbH Arctic P superyacht: features, photos, reviews

    arctic p superyacht

  5. Yacht ARCTIC P, Schichau-Unterweser

    arctic p superyacht

  6. Pictures superyacht Arctic P Ships Yacht Marinas

    arctic p superyacht

COMMENTS

  1. ARCTIC P Yacht • Gretel Packer $80M Superyacht

    The yacht Arctic P is powered by high-performance Deutz engines, achieving a maximum speed of 17 knots and a cruising speed of 11 knots. With a remarkable range of over 3,000 nautical miles, this superyacht is perfect for those seeking adventure on the high seas.

  2. Inside the adventures of the 87m explorer Arctic P

    The 87.57-metre Arctic P is renowned for her sturdiness, endurance and flexibility. "She is special because of her seaworthiness," says Pugh. "A lot of new vessels have modern stabilisers, but due to the sheer weight of Arctic P - she's an 87-metre vessel [with] a seven-metre draught - she's incredibly sturdy. She was designed to rescue boats, so you're never overly concerned ...

  3. Fact file: five things you didn't know about converted explorer yacht

    Cue the 87.6-metre Arctic P. Built by Schichau-Unterweser to be "the strongest, toughest salvage rescue vessel in the world", she was relaunched in 1993 as the largest converted explorer of her time. During her twenty-year tenure, Arctic P has circumnavigated the globe, picked up a World Superyacht Award and even set a Guinness World Record.

  4. ARCTIC P yacht (Schichau-Unterweser, 87.57m, 1969)

    ARCTIC P, a 87.57 m Motor Yacht built in Germany and delivered in 1969, is the flagship of Schichau-Unterweser. Her top speed is 18.0 kn, her cruising speed is 15.0 kn, and she boasts a maximum cruising range of 17000.0 nm at 12.0 kn, with power coming from two Deutz diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 12 guests, with 25 crew members.

  5. Yacht ARCTIC P, Schichau-Unterweser

    This motor yacht ARCTIC P is a 88 metre 287 (foot) important steel ship which was created at Schichau-Unterweser and devised by Schichau-Unterweser. A considerable converted private yacht ARCTIC P is a particularily high quality German built superyacht which was launched to accolade in 1969. Accommodating 12 guests and 25 qualified crew, motor ...

  6. 87.6m Arctic P Superyacht

    Arctic P is a custom motor yacht launched in 1969 by Schichau Unterwesser in Bremerhaven, Germany and most recently refitted in 2008. Design. Arctic P measures 87.58 metres in length, with a max draft of 7.30 metres and a beam of 14.73 metres. She has a gross tonnage of 2,610 tonnes. She has a deck material of teak.

  7. 45: Arctic P

    45: Arctic P. Arctic P, originally built as an icebreaker tug, represents one of several conversion projects undertaken by renowned Claus Kusch at the Manoel Island Dockyard in Malta. The steel hull workboat was reinvented as a luxury expedition yacht, just as capable of negotiating the ice floes of the Polar regions as the azure waters of the ...

  8. Freshly refitted 88m expedition yacht ARCTIC now available for French

    Superyacht ARCTIC can accommodate up to 12 guests in 7 beautifully appointed cabins for mindblowing odysseys. Her cabin configuration includes a sprawling 90m² Owner's deck replete with a plush library and games room, as well as a private sun lounging area. Additionally, this vessel has the capacity for up to 28 crew members, ensuring seven ...

  9. Schichau-Unterweser GmbH Arctic P Superyacht: Features, Photos ...

    Conceived as a tug and salvage vessel, the Artic P, with an icebreaker hull, has sailed the seas and oceans. In 1992, she was bought by Australian mass-media magnate Kerry Parker. Parker decided to convert the vessel into a private yacht and to that end sent her to the Maltese Shipyard. The yacht is equipped with a master suite and 5 passenger ...

  10. Yacht ARCTIC , Schichau Unterweser

    Luxury explorer yacht ARCTIC P is an impressive 88-metre vessel, which has received an extensive refit in 2015, which lasted 7 months. The refit was performed at the Navantia Shipyard in Spain, whereas ARCTIC P superyacht was originally built in Germany at Schichau-Unterweser, and launched in 1969. She has also received various refits in the ...

  11. Yacht Arctic P • Schicau Unterweser • 1969 • Photos & Video

    Yacht » Arctic P » Photos. Yacht Arctic P Photos & Video. Yacht Owner Photos Location For Sale & Charter News. Name: Arctic P: Length: 87m (285ft) Builder: Schicau Unterweser: Year: 1969: Price: US$ 80 million: Owner: Gretel Packer: Our Amazing Photo Gallery. Photos by Nicky Canepa and Joseph Brimacombe. Load more.

  12. Arctic P Superyacht

    Click to view the full table of specifications for Arctic P superyacht, including accommodation, performance, equipment and amenities. Sign up to our newsletter Read indepth magazine ... Arctic P Type. Motor Model. Custom Sub Type - Year. 1969 Flag. Bahamas MCA - Class. LR Hull NB. 1746 Hull Colour - Builders ...

  13. Motor yacht Arctic P

    About Arctic P. Arctic P is a 87.58 m / 287′5″ luxury motor yacht. She was built by Schichau Unterwesser in 1969. With a beam of 14.73 m and a draft of 7.3 m, she has a steel hull and steel superstructure. This adds up to a gross tonnage of 2610 tons. She is powered by engines of 6,595 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 22 knots and a ...

  14. Explorer yacht Arctic P refitted with luxury amenities

    Explorer yacht Arctic P is designed to go places, and she's done just that, winning a Voyager's Award during the World Superyacht Awards 2015. Arctic P is the yacht to voyage the furthest south ever, and new more fuel-efficient propellers installed during this refit should benefit her during future world-girdling adventures.

  15. Arctic P Yacht

    Arctic P is a motor yacht with an overall length of m. The yacht's builder is Schichau Unterweser AG from Germany, who launched Arctic P in 1969. The superyacht has a beam of m, a draught of m and a volume of . GT.. Arctic P features exterior design by Kusch Yachts and interior design by Oliver Design . Up to 12 guests can be accommodated on board the superyacht, Arctic P, and she also has ...

  16. ARCTIC Yacht Charter Price

    The 87.58m/287'4" 'Arctic' expedition yacht built by shipyard Schichau Unterweser is available for charter for up to 12 guests in 7 cabins. For adventures off the beaten track, Expedition yacht Arctic has all the bells and whistles, designed to offer a sublime combination of luxury and convivial spaces that serve to welcome you from the moment ...

  17. ARCTIC P, Yacht

    The current position of ARCTIC P is at South Pacific Ocean reported 6 days ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Papeete, French Polynesia, sailing at a speed of 13.0 knots and expected to arrive there on Mar 10, 01:00.The vessel ARCTIC P (IMO 1006207, MMSI 308753000) is a Yacht built in 1970 (54 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Bahamas.

  18. $80,000,000 Superyacht Arctic P

    Every week YIR will introduce you to one Superyacht. This week we introduce you to MY Arctic P. Find out all the details you need to know when it comes to th...

  19. Inside James Packer's Luxurious Superyacht Called Arctic P

    Gregory Francis. 1 of 7. Titled one of the largest superyachts in the world, the Arctic P, owned by billionaire James Packer, is currently making headlines after he offered it to his fiancée ...

  20. Arctic P and the furthest voyage south ever undertaken

    The current owner's family bought her in 1993 and undertook a rebuild in Malta, overseen by Klaus Kusch, and a number of upgrades since. Despite her now superyacht-standard interiors, Arctic P is still a serious explorer vessel. "We have 50mm steel plating on the bow and 30mm on the ice line.

  21. Unveiled for the first time: Onboard the 88m conversion superyacht Arctic P

    Originally built in 1969 and converted in the mid-90s, the 88m superyacht Arctic is a true explorer. Here, we take a closer look onboard. Unveiled for the first time: Onboard the 88m conversion superyacht Arctic P

  22. Yacht Arctic P • Schicau Unterweser • 1969 • Location (Live)

    Yacht Arctic P Location (Live) Yacht Owner Photos Location For Sale & Charter News. Name: Arctic p: Length: 87m (285ft) Builder: Schicau Unterweser: Year: 1969: Price: US$ 80 million: Owner: Gretel Packer: Follow the location of the Arctic P Yacht live! Help Us Grow. SuperYachtFan.

  23. Arctic P Yacht • Schicau Unterweser • 1969 • News

    Yacht » Arctic P » News. Arctic P Yacht News. Yacht Owner Photos Location For Sale & Charter News. Name: Arctic P: Length: 87m (285ft) Builder: Schicau Unterweser: Year: 1969: Price: US$ 80 million: Owner: Gretel Packer: News. Soon you will find the latest news about the yacht and her owner. SuperYachtFan.