Join sailor and musician Nick Atkinson as he recounts an unlikely journey that began at a bakery on Ponsonby Road and wound up with our hero living on the heavily glaciated island of South Georgia with Tim and Pauline Carr. He didn't travel in a straight line however. Grand classic yacht regattas in Scotland, Sardinia, and Antigua formed stepping stones to eventually landing the gig at the museum in Grytviken, the site of an old whaling station and Shakleton's grave. Hear accounts of epic ocean passages aboard the three masted 1902 schooner Shenandoah as well as tales from three incredible seasons racing the 95' LOD 1911 Fife gaff cutter Mariquita, leavened with stints on canting keel maxis and the odd bicycle. He also never travelled without his saxophone, a tradition he continues to this day.

Nick Atkinson is a New Zealand musician, sailor, and adventurer known for combining a life of music performance with long-distance voyaging and outdoor exploration. Based in New Zealand, he has built a reputation as a versatile performer whose work spans live music, touring collaborations, and creative maritime storytelling.

Alongside his musical career, Atkinson is an experienced offshore sailor who has undertaken extended ocean passages and coastal expeditions throughout the Pacific region. His sailing life often informs his artistic work, inspiring songs, performances, and speaking engagements that reflect themes of travel, resilience, and the culture of life at sea. 

In addition to performing, Atkinson is active in adventure-based projects and community events that celebrate maritime heritage, exploration, and creative expression. Through his combined pursuits in music, sailing, and storytelling, he represents a distinctly New Zealand tradition of practical adventure paired with artistic creativity, engaging audiences both onshore and at sea.