The rogue Norwegian yachtsman Jarle Andhoey is now headed for Antarctica on his yacht, Nilaya, with a New Zealander who is onboard by mistake.
Mr Andhoey is trying to find traces of his support vessel, Berserk, which sank last February with three crew, during his bid to reach the South Pole.
Mr Andhoey told a Norwegian Broadcasting Service (NRK) journalist that he is heading for McMurdo Sound where the Berserk is thought to have gone down with three crew.
He hopes to find evidence of anchors there and plans to leave a wreath and bottles with messages in them.
But he says he is not planning to repeat last February's attempt on the South Pole.
[image:4465:half:right]Mr Andhoey told NRK that Immigration Service staff boarded the Nilaya, in Auckland harbour last Monday and told him he was to be deported.
Mr Andhoey said the vessel then left in a hurry, taking a Maori man, who had been repairing an anchor and did not have time to get off.
He said the man was happy to be on the ship, but it's not clear if the New Zealander knows the four-man crew have decided not to take an emergency beacon with them, because they did not want to put anyone else's lives at risk if they got into trouble.
Mr Andhoey told NRK he is concerned that the Berserk may have been asked to leave McMurdo Sound just before it sank.
Mr Andhoey says he has tried to find out if New Zealand authorities gave that instruction but has had no response from New Zealand, which has prompted him to come and find out for himself.
Maritime New Zealand says it is not aware of any contact from Mr Andhoey since last February.
Mr Andhoey has not obtained the correct permits from the Norwegian authorities for either trip, and has been heavily criticised for poor planning.
New Zealand Customs says it is not actively monitoring the vessel, but still wants to hear from ships which spot the Nilaya as it heads to the Ross Sea.
Mr Andhoey has confirmed that he has Samuel Massie, 19, on board, who was on his ill-fated attempt to get to the South Pole by quad bike last year.
