It has been a longstanding ambition of mine to sail Sumara to Scoresby Sund. Scoresby Sund is the longest fjord in the world and is situated in the high Arctic on the Eastern seaboard of Greenland.
We made a half-hearted attempt to get there after climbing Beerenberg on Jan Mayen in 2011, but in reality, we knew we would be too early in the year for the ice to have cleared. I’ve been thwarted by work commitments since then but I did have the opportunity to join Will Stirling on his wonderful yacht Integrity in 2019. The plan was to head to Scoresby Sund but once again the ice conditions resulted in us making landfall further south. A great adventure nevertheless!
The Coronavirus situation has pretty much ruled out an attempt this year but I have decided that I am going to go all out to get there in 2022.
Sumara has had her thirty-year refit with Ullapool Boatbuilders. With her new, more powerful, 16 hp Beta Marine engine, new aluminium bronze prop and new teak decks she is pretty much ready to go. Sumara is even conveniently positioned in Scotland poised to set off.
So what about this year?
The plan is to tick off another long-standing ambition and head out towards St Kilda. For some reason I often call St Kilda, Ailsa Craig I’ve no idea why, but it could cause a lot of confusion if I ever arrange a rendezvous with another yacht. St Kilda has also been a dream destination for my old sailing chum Ray Hain. We sailed across the Atlantic together in 1996 so who better for crew!
Talking about a rendezvous, it is possible Brimble and Thembi may be heading towards St Kilda too. Both skippers also sailed across the Atlantic in 1996 too so it could be a fine reunion celebration if the weather is kind to us.
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