Nice publicity for Shell, as BP are Mr Johnassons's main sponsor!
YMML - Adventure Network International are no longer servicing Antarctica. Not even sure if they are still in existance.
RV6-VNE - Albany is indeed closer to the Australian bases - not to Antarctica. Our bases are quite a long way west. CHCH-McMurdo is 3831, HB-McMurdo is 3995. Also remember that CHCH is a little way "up" in the south island, so the over water distance is reduced even further!
Also, if he was flying due (true) south (makes sense as he was headed over the south pole) he'd want to start from as far south as possible. Albany is a bit further north than HB!
CS