Icebergs and mountains at Svalbard
  • 8th July 2019
  • Blog
  • by Pete Green
  • 0

One of our yacht delivery skippers has recently fallen in love with sailing in the Arctic Circle. Although it is not a place we typically think of when planning our summer cruise, Michele is now on a mission to share his passion with like-minded sailors.

Icebergs and mountains at Svalbard

Michele was first inspired when he joined a 2-month expedition in 2018. He sailed from Cowes all the way to Scoresby Sund in Greenland and back again. Michele says “I was blown away by the ruggedness of the coastline, the beautiful fjords and the incredible wildlife. This is one of the most unspoilt cruising grounds on the planet. Sailing here is pure paradise and for any adventurous people it will be a trip of a lifetime”.

Accessing the Arctic Circle is not an easy task. It is a long way to sail there from the Solent and you really do need a yacht that is equipped for the conditions. Michele has teamed up with a friend and they now run a 21-metre custom built aluminium expedition yacht that is perfect for the job. “The boat has been designed for the experience. An observation area allows guests to look out at the scenery whilst staying out of the elements. There is even a sauna onboard to warm up after a day out in the cold!”

An expedition sailing yacht under full sail

A typical cruise from Svalbard will involve visiting remote settlements. The spooky Russian ghost town of Pyramiden lays frozen in time. It was abandoned in the early ’90s when the Soviet Union collapsed. Today the buildings still stand much the way they were.  You can wander the empty streets and explore some of the buildings that have been left open.

A Russian ghost town in the snow.

For any wildlife lovers, this really is the place to go. Blue and humpback whales frequent the rich waters to feed creating a spectacular sight as they breach. Polar bears are commonly sighted on the sea ice and along the coastline as they hunt for food. Walruses, beluga whales, arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer can also be spotted.

A polar bear standing on ice

Part of the Svalbard experience is getting up close to the retreating glaciers. It’s a life-changing experience to witness huge chunks of ice calving off and tumbling into the tranquil waters below.

Ice glacier and mountains

The summer temperatures in this region are more clement than you might think (approximately 3 to 7 degrees) and of course, the sun shines all day long!

Walruses basking in the sun.

If you are interested in finding out more about this area and perhaps booking a trip of a lifetime then please visit: https://www.secretatlastravel.com

 

If you have already sailed in the Arctic Circle then we’d love to hear your comments below.

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Halcyon Yachts Ltd is a dedicated international yacht delivery specialist with highly experienced and qualified crew. For more information or to see details of their recent deliveries please visit  http://halcyonyachts.com/

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