Category: Expeditions
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High Latitude Expedition Insurance
14th March 2022 – London (Updated 26th November 2025) Reading time: 15 minutes There are probably going to be four parts to insuring an expedition yachting trip heading for the high latitudes. Firstly, insuring the boat, secondly insuring the crew for any potential search and rescue costs, thirdly covering medical costs and finally a general…
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I’ve just built a Classic Wooden Drone!
It will fly at 24 feet above the deck and point in exactly the same direction as the boat. That is because it will be fixed to the upper spreaders! It is typical of a wooden boat owner to solve a technical problem with a piece of wood and six coats of varnish but at…
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New Toys – GME Epirb and Garmin Inreach Mini
5th February 2022 (Updated 13th June 2025) The 406 Epirb wasn’t really a new toy. My old GME Epirb’s battery had expired so it needed renewing. When I phoned Sartech they offered me a tempting upgrade to the version which has a built in GPS. It can save rescue time if the Epirb incorporates a…
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Notes from my Expedition Journal – East Greenland 2019 – in the yacht Integrity
Notes from my Expedition Journal These are notes taken directly from my little waterproof notepad. I was invited as crew on Will Stirling’s splendid yacht “Integrity”. We were aiming for Scoresby Sund but for my second time we were thwarted by ice. Any additions or alterations to the original notes I have made in blue,…
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Laptops for Boats and Vans without spending a fortune!
14th December 2021 Rotherhithe Although I am more than happy to leave my laptop resting at home, there are certain voyages when they can be useful, or even virtually essential. I need one for my next trip to Greenland so that I can download ice charts and grib files*. I rather liked my old Toshiba…
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Scoresby Sund Expedition Update
Dunstaffnage 16th November 2021 A little bit of progress has been made but on lots of fronts. I’m currently up in Scotland carrying out a few little jobs on Sumara, most importantly winterising the engine but also a few domestic improvements like installing the diabolically expensive new sink pump. Running Rigging Back in town, I…
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What’s Bubbling for 2021 and 2022
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,…
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Scoresby Sund – or not?
Some people dream of rounding Cape Horn, some people dream of going through Havengore Creek – a far more risky adventure in my opinion. I dream about sailing to Scoresby Sund. We made a half-hearted attempt in 2011 after sailing Sumara to Jan Mayen but we were stupidly early and the ice was fast all…
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Arctic Club Dinner
13th December 2014 Queens College, Cambridge A few months ago I was invited to lunch at the Athenaeum Club, and a very fine lunch it was too! Not only was I fed halibut but I was also asked if I would like to be a member of the Arctic Club. I have to confess that…
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Jan Mayen Talk at Arthur Beale’s
Thursday 9th October 2014 There are still some places left for my little talk about sailing to Jan Mayen in a 26 ft Vertue and climbing Beerenberg – the most northerly volcano in the world. It is on this Thursday 9th October and starts at 18:45 lasting a bit over one hour. Ideally email talks@arthurbeale.co.uk to book your…