Snow Petrel is a finely illustrated account of the yacht of the same name and her incredible journey to Mawson’s Huts on Cape Denison in eastern Antarctica, the windiest place on earth. Passages to the southernmost continent in non-sponsored yachts, especially one this small, are rare, but one where a father goes along as crew for two of his children is exceptional.
The father is Jon Tucker, an ex-teacher turned author, whose self-built gaff ketch, New Zealand Maid, was home for him and his wife Barbara as they raised their five sons at sea. One son, Ben Tucker, became a professional seaman, and is the skipper of the 34ft Snow Petrel, while another, Matt, his youngest brother, who was cook and crew, showed a bent for film and photography, which…
