“If bad weather delays us reaching our yacht in Antarctica, can we get money off?”
EXPERT: Ben Lyons, CEO of EYOS
"Delays are fairly frequent when it comes to Antarctica charters, because around 90 per cent of flights that clients take into and out of Antarctica are dependent on the weather. Once a season, there’s at least a one-day or maybe a two-day delay. So, for clients that have chartered a yacht that’s sitting at King George Island waiting for them to arrive, and they can’t reach it, that’s quite a big problem. It’s not the yacht’s fault as it’s there on station ready to take deliverance for the contract, and it’s not the client’s fault as they’re trying to get to the yacht but can’t. It’s a situation whereby upfront communication with the client is paramount as early as the booking process. We are very clear even before contracts are signed that delays are a potential obstacle. No glossing over the truth. We want to prepare our clients accordingly.
“On the flipside, because we know that weather can be an issue, we work proactively with captains, yacht owners, central agents and charter clients to agree on a collective plan regarding refunds or credits for future days, as well as spontaneous activities. For one set of clients with a 24-hour delay, we took them on a helicopter tour over Torres de Paine before flying back that evening and setting off for Antarctica early the next morning. Of course, it works both ways. Sudden weather in Antarctica can prevent clients from flying home and leave them stuck on the yacht for an extra day at no extra cost other than additional APA charges. Flexibility is key.”
