Arctic

The Arctic is defined as the area within the Arctic Circle, approximately 66 deg. 34’ north of the Equator. While the center is a frozen sea, the Arctic basin’s coastline encompasses the northern parts of Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia and includes islands such as Jan Mayen, Bear Is. and the cruising grounds of the Svalbard Archipelago. The last vestiges of the Gulf Stream keep the waters around the West of Svalbard open for cruising for much of the year and the landscape is dominated by fjords, tundra and mountains up to 1700m. For those looking for adventure there is plenty to do using your explorer yacht as a base for expeditions ashore. For photographic expeditions there’s the aurora borealis, stunning vistas, an abundance of wildlife including of course Polar Bears. Visitors must heed advice on local requirements and two good sources for these are the IMO POLAR CODE and the AECO YACHT GUIDELINES for the Arctic. For more entertaining and informative introduction to high latitude polar cruising we recommend among others; the writing of the great W H Tilman, who explored Greenland and Svalbard in his Bristol Pilot Cutter, Mischief. Which, sadly he lost to ice in the same waters. Possibly relevant, one of his famous quotes: “any worthwhile expedition can be planned on the back of an envelope.” Not how we suggest to sail, climb and explore the area these days.

Text and image source: owenclarke