Daring to pursue a feat of a lifetime

If you had a chance to seize a once-in-a-lifetime experience, would you go for it?

All too often, obligations and daily life cause us to hesitate to take the leap, let alone plan for the leap.

On Saturday, traditional and social media gave us play-by-play coverage of Nik Wallenda’s tightrope walk across Niagara Falls: a risky feat he dreamed of accomplishing since he was a six-year-old child. That reminded me of a half-finished blog entry I’d written about a friend who chose not to let the window close on a similarly daring pursuit.

This past fall and winter, my friend Fiep sailed to Antarctica. Not on a luxurious cruiseship. Not on a mighty icebreaker. No, Fiep traveled there and back as part of the crew on the bark Europa―a traditional tall ship, which was built back in 1911 and looks like something Geoffrey Rush or Johnny Depp would sail in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. 

Click image for larger view of the Europa in the Strait of Georgia

How’s that for adventurous? Granted, Fiep used to captain various traditional Dutch sailing ships when she lived in Europe. But, the waters surrounding that continent are child’s play compared to the treacherous waters en route to Antarctica.

“I was a bit worried about Cape Horn and Drake’s Passage, but oh, am I glad I did it,” says Fiep.

A little trepidation is natural. The Drake Passage has wicked currents, rough waves (short and steep, including rogue ones of up to 30-metres high), fierce winds (often reaching hurricane force), and if that wasn’t enough, there are icebergs to boot.

And Cape Horn, well, it’s no picnic either. So many sailors and seafarers died rounding “The Horn” and cutting through “The Passage” that the Panama Canal was created to permit boats to avoid the dangers and link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Yet, Fiep didn’t pass on the chance to go, because in addition to wanting to explore Antarctica, a longtime chum of Fiep’s invited her to join the crew, for this all-expenses-paid, but working trip to Antarctica.

Fiep was responsible for her own flights to and from the departure and arrival points. She made her way to the Falkland Islands, where her adventure began. There she boarded the 100-year-old tall ship, which is registered in her home country, The Netherlands. 

Was the sailing rough? Even though I wasn’t there, I can attest that it was violent. I felt seasick just watching Fiep’s video clips of waves crashing up over the side of the ship, washing everything in their path across the deck and slamming the mast and riggings.

Fiep tells me the weather was cold and she worked hard for hours on end, but she knows she would have regretted missing out on this type of excursion. You have to understand that Fiep is an avid naturalist and environmentalist (current president of the Island Nature Trust and past board member of the Natural History Society of PEI, now Nature PEI).

This adventure presented her with risks, but the rewards outweighed everything when she spotted colonies of Magalantic Penguins, King Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, Fur Seals, Elephant Seals, Humpback Whales, all sorts of petrels, terns, and the nasty Skua.

Is something dicey on your bucket list? Even if commitments and finances prevent you from seizing the opportunity now, based on Fiep’s exhilaration and the media accounts of Nik’s experience, I encourage you to start going out of your way to plan for that feat.

And if there aren’t any obstacles other than the voice of caution in your head, then go ahead, make it happen. Experience something…

        AWESOME!!!

Thank you, Fiep, for your photos, your joie de vivre and your friendship.