Interview with Jarle Andhøy:
ExWeb:How did you
research the area and who did you speak to before you left for the Ross Sea?
Andhøy: I spoke to various old
school whalers from Vestfold. Mostly Lars Henriksen a Norwegian whaling pilot from Sandefjord. I also had some
email correspondence with some
cruise ships in the area. The Bible in the area is certainly The
English admiralty sailing directions 9 th edition.
ExWeb:Why do you thing people like Skip Novak and Don McIntyre don't recommend ordinary sailing vessels to enter the Ross Sea?
Andhøy: "Berserk" is not a ordinary sailing vessel, but a expedition vessel And I share some of their statements about the
weather and area, but stay to the facts about this expedition. I never spoke with either one of them. I know that Don was copied on some
email correspondence which I had with
captain Mike on the Orion. Surprising for me that these respectable guys want to get a few moments of fame in this tragedy. Especially since the
lost seamen cannot defend themselves from the
project criticism based on their own guesses about it.
ExWeb:Did you reach the South Pole point- yes or no? And how do you define The End of the World that you keep speaking about?
Andhøy: You will get both answers by watching television. I can also inform you that getting to the South Pole in 2011 is not very hard compared to Amundsens days.
ExWeb:How did you assess the risk when two of the potential, and experienced expeditioners, withdrew from the trip due to
safety concerns?
Andhøy: I dont know where you have that information from and suggest you do some better
research. On this expedition there has been 11 people involved on different levels - some were up to it some were not. A selection was done from my and
Captain Bellikas side to collect the best
men for the mission.
ExWeb: I'm talking about Gjermund Frostad, a very experienced motorcyclist with Dakar and Dresden-Breslau on his resume, and Tore Sunde-Rasmussen, Mount Everest and 7 summits, who through Norwegian newspapers has stated that they backed out due to
safety concerns. Your comment?
Andhøy: I haven't read that media information, but can say they have never been officially signed on this expedition. They are both friends and have been on consulting bases, but are certainly no seamen or berserkers.
ExWeb:How will you handle the upcoming police investigation for lacking SAR and not filing for a sailing
permit?
Andhøy: I will face it and answer to all questions. Its some complicated international questions that will come up concerning the treaty. In
addition I appreciate that Norwegian officials also will investigate the
accident - - What really happened to the "Berserk"? The answer of that has more attention for me. Not whether they had the right papers or not.
ExWeb:Why didn't you make sure to have the paperwork in place before you left?
Andhøy: We did various research and there are different formalities depending of the country where you process the paperwork and we where answered by more questions than answers.
ExWeb: You have been fined for missing SAR and "talking to a Polar Bear" on Svalbard, arrested and deported from
Canada when you tried to sail the Northwest
Passage, and are now facing a police investigation for the Antarctic expedition. How will these incidents affect your future?
Andhøy: Time will show.
ExWeb:Anything else?
Andhøy: I appreciate any critics based on facts. The ending of this expedition is nothing but a tragedy for me, the crew mates and the families involved with this
project. Our philosophy is being self-sufficient and managing life as old time seafarers. In order to survive and succeed in
remote hostile areas being self-sufficient is the key. All members on board the Berserk was fully aware of the risk and did not want to bother nobody, but ourselves. But the self-sufficiency was breached when my shipmate chose to activate the EBIRB.
Re: Heedless Venture to Antarctica
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