Visits of Yachts Amundsen and Vinson of Antarctica, Easter 2026
Report Kelly Green
This week, we thought it might have been a quieter one after the past couple of weeks with cruise ship visits, but it seems Tristan is proving to be a very popular destination this year, which is wonderful to see.
Yacht Amundsen
On Wednesday 8th April 2026, we welcomed the yacht Amundsen, carrying twelve people on board, all part of a student group travelling from Chile. They had a wonderful day ashore, enjoying a lobster lunch, taking in the sights, walking around the settlement and relaxing with cold beers in the Tourism Centre garden. They stayed overnight at the island on the yacht and made the most of their time on the island.
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| The yacht Amundsen transferring crew to the harbour by RIB. Photo: Kelly Green | Kate Schnippering holding a copy of her article on her previous visits to Tristan. Photo: Kelly Green |
It was also particularly special as one of the sailors on board, Kate Schnippering, had previously written an article, 'Imaginary Islands' about travelling to Tristan da Cunha. She kindly brought the magazine with her, and we were able to have it signed. The article shares her earlier attempts to land on the island, when weather conditions prevented it, and how she was finally able to return and successfully land a few years later. It was really lovely to see, and we look forward to reading it properly when we get a spare moment. It was also nice to welcome familiar, friendly faces back to the island.
Yacht Vinson of Antarctica
The following morning, we also welcomed the yacht Vinson of Antarctica, with another ten visitors arriving. It made for a busy and lively time at the Tourism Centre. With a small island population and a limited workforce, days like this certainly keep everyone busy, but in the best possible way, and it was fantastic to see the centre full and to welcome so many people to the island.
The Vinson of Antarctica at anchor. Photo: Odile Cesari
It was especially nice to see Paul and his team again on Vinson of Antarctica, even if only briefly as we were kept busy throughout their visit. The group enjoyed a lovely lunch, and one of the visitors took a scenic drive around the island with Stacey. Caryn and Lillie were kept busy serving on the tills and assisting throughout the day.
The yachts Amundsen and Vinson of Antarctica anchored off the settlement on the 9th April 2026.
Both yachts visited Tristan at Easter last year. Photo: Philip Kendall