Tracking the Belgica
Published on 20.09.2007 - General Info
Just three months after his journey to the Arctic, Dixie Dansercoer is already off on a new adventure. He plans to follow the trail of the Belgica, Adrien de Gerlache's three-master.
Dixie Dansercoer, Alain Hubert's companion during the Arctic Arc expedition last spring is, this time, heading for the Southern Seas. This new expedition celebrates the 110th anniversary of the Belgian Belgica expedition, led by Lieutenant Adrien de Gerlache. This expedition remains in history as the first to have over wintered in the southern waters (in the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula). At the time, some people reproached that Gerlache had planned and done everything possible to ensure the ship would be imprisoned in the ice. However, when the ship had set out from Antwerp, no over wintering had been intended.
The objective of this new adventure is to raise public awareness on environmental protection and specifically on that of the Polar Regions, given their extreme sensitivity to global warming.
For this new adventure, Dixie has chosen a 47-foot sloop, the Euronav Belgica, built at the French Caroff Duflos shipyard. This sailing ship is a sister ship of the French Vagabond, captained, as one may remember, by Eric Brossier. In 2002-2003, the Frenchman had managed to cross the northwest and northeast passages, aboard this very ship.
The crew comprises of 7 men: Dixie Dansercoer, Expedition Leader, Michel Tordoir, First Skipper, Andre Mechelynck , Second Skipper, Rumen Grozev, First Mate, Laurent Dick, Photographer, Troy Henkels, Cameraman, and Pieterjan Kempynck, Communications officer.
The expedition left Antwerp last Sunday September 16th, and was welcomed a few hours later in the Nieuport anchorage by the Treaty of Rome sailing ship, captained by Philippe Hanin. A huge crowd had turned up. After inauguration of the Dixie Dansercoer statue, the crew took to the seas, escorted by the Treaty of Rome.
We learned yesterday that the sailing ship was already back in Nieuport for repairs.
