N63,39.65 x W007.41. Force 1 Northerly. Sunny. 451nm to Jan Mayen

Well who would have believed it! Its a lovely day up here, the sun has a bit of warmth (15C)and it is pretty much calm but sadly no wind. Sumara is chug chuging along but I think we can see Thembi to our port beam so I suspect they are making a gallant effort at sailing. We could only manage 1 knot sidewards so decided to burn off somne very precious diesel. We have 103L on board, lets say 90L useable, which needs to get us to Greenland. I’ve emailed Charlotta to see if she can smuggle some onto Aurora in her handbag but haven’t had a response. Not sure if Charlotta has got a handbag in any case. There was a rendezvous at 2200 last night with Thembi as they overhauled us just after a rain squall. Lots of video going on. I was in bed. John knocked up some warm rolls with bacon this morning (that’s something else for Charlottas handbag). I’ve just painted a rubbish picture of Ullapool – lovely place just a rubbish picture. Its tough out here.

Sent by satellite phone at 10.27 GMT on Thursday 30th June 2011 (Blogged by Gerry)

2 responses to “N63,39.65 x W007.41. Force 1 Northerly. Sunny. 451nm to Jan Mayen”

  1. John ans Selma avatar
    John ans Selma

    Just to let you know that Peter et al at work asked for this blog, that you had mentioned John, so they could follow you, had a text from Jerry. So they are possibly all reading it, maybe even this message I am sending!

  2. John ans Selma avatar
    John ans Selma

    Day 1 from Constable Point, a small airfield on the west side of Hurry Fjord in Jameson Land embark and sail west between magnificent icebergs that drift down the Hall Basin after calving from the glaciers originating in the Inland Ice. Anchor at Hekla Havn, on Denmark Ø, the site of an old Inuit settlement and wintering camp of the first scientific expedition to Scoresby Sound over a hundred years ago.
    Day 2 Explore Hekla Havn and its surroundings. Those wishing to trek across the island will be picked up by the ship on the western shore. Sail west to Ankervig through the narrow Føhnfjord with the magnificent basalt mountains of Gåseland on the port side and 2000 metres high sheer granite cliffs of Milne Land on the startboard side
    Day 3 Trek the Hjørnedal, a steep valley penetrating into Gåseland from Ankervig. This area, with some of the lushest vegetation of the whole eastern coast line, has a warm stable climate throughout the summer. There is a good chance of catching Arctic Char in the river and estuary using rod and tackle. Sail north through Rødefjord to anchor in Harefjord.
    Day 4 Ashore in Harefjord scouting for Muskoxen, which normally graze on the south facing slopes. Then an easy hike to the top of the ridge between Harefjord and Rypefjord for a breathtaking view of Renland and the Inland Ice. Continue sailing, now eastwards through the awesome Øfjord to anchor at Bjørneøer.
    Day 5 After a relatively short visit on shore in Bjørneøer, sail up Nordvestfjord (depending on the ice situation) for a short visit to an old Inuit settlement on the island of Mågetuen. Sail east to the abandoned trading post at Sydkap. Bonfire and BBQ at the rocky beach where a local hunter helps prepare muskox meat.
    Day 6 Departing early morning for the crossing of Hall Basin to Ittoqqortoormiit Village. This is where JOHN takes the HELICOPTER from. Visit the small village of Ittoqqortoormiit, founded in the 1925s by people from Ammassalik. It is the most northerly settlement on the east coast of Greenland. The 500 inhabitants make their living mostly by subsistence hunting of seals, Narwhale, Muskoxen and Polar Bear. The quaint little houses dot the rocky slopes of south Liverpool Land with magnificent views of Kap Brewster and the Volquart Boons Coast to the south. Opportunity to visit the village‘s general store to purchase some local handicrafts of bone, soap stone and hides.

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