Category: The Jan Mayen Expedition
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62,58.94N x 007,24.49W Speed 2.8 knots. Course north. Wind F2 West.
Sumara set of at 03:30 this morning and was followed later by Thembi. We have just heard from Thembi over the VHF and they have spotted us on the horizon. The wind has been fair for several hours and we have made a very pleasant run of about 40 nm with air temperature of up…
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We are underway!
62N x 007W. Force 3 Southerly.It’s 0450 GMT and we are just clearing the massive Faroese Cliffs which I believe are some of the highest in Europe (but don’t quote me on that). The tide was just right giving us a bit of a lift and sweeping us along in the calms under the lee…
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Departure Imminent
As the winds are easing now we are thinking of sailing on the next tide at 2am with Thembi following the next day. We went for a fine walk out to the island point this afternoon where I asked everyone to pose for a photo looking miserable. I had completely forgotten that we had Dan…
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Thembi Stops off at Eidi!
Thembi have just joined us in Eidi. They were going to sail on to Jan Mayen but saw our flourescent yellow radar reflector sheltering behind the harbour wall and decided to stop off to see us.The best laid plans thwarted!I have just recieved an email from Siggi: Hey Alasdair The best anchorage is normally in…
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Ice Situation Scoresbysund
Scoresbysund is still not accessible but Angmagsslik is looking just possible. Hopefully the situation will improve over the next few weeks. John has a helicopter ride and flight booked from Scoresbysund so if we go further south some new arrangements may need putting in place. (I think that was a hint Selma!) Sumara is waiting for…
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Not a Good Day for Sailing
We woke to creaking lines, howling rigging and a harbour full of white horses and decided to stay put but use the time to climb the Faroes highest hill – Slattaratindur at 882 m. As we didn’t have a map we decided to seek local advice. The girl in the supermarket said there are no…
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Bare Poles Down the Sundini
June 2011 Sumara set off yesterday down the narrow gap between Streymoy and Eysturoy. We had calculated that the mean tide would be at 20:37 GMT. The narrows from Torshavn to near the bridge have no tidal rise at all but just after the bridge the rise and fall is 2 m. At high water…
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Pre-departure Meeting
We all met up on Thembi last night go through any final details for the trip to Jan Mayen. Sumara will leave on Sunday to Eidi. We will clamber up the 887 m high hill near there on Monday as our final exercise before sailing north. Thembi, the faster yacht, will probably follow on Monday.…
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Will She Sink?
Sumara is now fully laden the waterline has just disappeared below the water. We are carrying 104 L of diesel, 134 L of water, climbing gear, food, anchor tackle etc. It should be enough to take us to Jan Mayen and then on to Greenland. We will be very restricted in the use of water,…
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John has Arrived Safely
John flew in last night just in time to join us all having a grand curry on Thembi. Now the crew is all assembled (apart from Charlotte who is arriving in Jan Mayen on the Icelandic boat) we will have a big meeting this evening to finalise plans. The Thembi crew are off on a…