Visit of the Superyacht SY Asteria
Report by Kelly Green. with additional photos from Philip Kendall
On the morning of Monday, 10th March 2025, the island of Tristan da Cunha awoke to the breathtaking sight of the superyacht SY Asteria gracing its waters. It was a glorious start to the day, but having departed later then scheduled from St Helena, the vessel had just one day to explore Tristan. The guests had an ambitious request - to visit all three outer islands.
SY Asteria at anchor off the settlement
Despite the time constraints, the island community worked seamlessly to ensure an efficient and enjoyable visit. Radio communications were smooth from the outset, and the immigration RIB was ready before 08:00 to transport the immigration team and bring the three guests ashore. The operation was swift and well-coordinated. At the harbour, Head of Tourism Kelly Green was ready to escort the visitors on their planned activities.
Guests coming into harbour in the Immigration RIB
The principal guest, Patrick Maselis, who is president of the Club de Monte-Carlo de l'Elite de la Philatélie and a former president of the Royal Philatelic Society London, had an impressive 1,200 postcards to post at the Post Office, ensuring that lucky recipients worldwide would receive a postcard from the remotest inhabited island on Earth. Once this was completed, Kelly guided the guests on a Potato Patches tour, where they had the opportunity to pick fresh lettuce and newly dug potatoes as requested by the yacht's chef.
Guests at the Post Office & Tourism Centre with a commemoration plaque of their expedition for the community
Next, the group visited the Thatched House Museum, a glimpse into the island's history and traditional way of life. Also taking place at the Post Office and Tourism centre was a plaque exchange between our Islands Adminstrator Philip Kendall and the Captain.
Plaque exchange with the captain
Meanwhile, the conservation team was hard at work preparing for the guests' outer island visits. A small RIB was loaded onto Asteria to facilitate landing on Inaccessible Island, while the large conservation RIB set off to assist. The conservation team also took on the task of catching fresh lobster for dinner.
By 11:30, Kelly and the guests were back at the harbour, ready for their outer island adventure. Kelly and Trevor accompanied the ship on this journey. As a special honour, Patrick Maselis invited them to join the guests for a five-course meal on the yacht's aft deck.
The Asteria's aft deck
The first stop was Nightingale Island, where the conservation RIB arrived to transfer the guests and Kelly ashore. The island's wildlife was spectacular - the landing rock was teeming with rockhopper penguins, fur seals, and Tristan thrushes. The guides led the visitors to the island's signpost, and a short five-minute walk westward brought them to a wondrous sight - albatross and shearwater chicks.
The Asteria's guests at the Nightingale Island sign.
Time was now pressing on, and Inaccessible Island was still on the itinerary. The conservation RIB went ahead to prepare for landing. By 17:10 , Asteria arrived, and the conservation team swiftly facilitated a brief 20-minute landing, allowing the guests to take in the scenery and capture a few photos. With the conservation team needing to return to Tristan before dark, the schedule remained tight.
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| Albatross and Shearwater chicks on Nightingale Island. | |
With their final visit completed, the guests were returned to Asteria, which immediately set course for Cape Town. Meanwhile, the conservation team navigated back to Tristan da Cunha, completing a truly rewarding and successful day.
A huge well done to everyone involved for their hard work, dedication, and teamwork in making the guests' wishes come true. The visit of SY Asteria showcased the island's warm hospitality, stunning wildlife, and seamless coordination - leaving a lasting impression on all who were fortunate enough to experience it.