We were trapped for 16 hours in the Arctic pack ice on our attempt to make landfall close to Turner Island, where the Inuits have found a hot spring. Unfortunately, there were too many clouds to define the exact density of pack ice from the sat picture. The ice chart was about one week old and underestimated the pack ice.
We could see a stretch of open water close to shore on the sat pic that leads finally to the settlement of Ittoqqotoormiit, but there was no way to pass the heavy pack. It was time-consuming and not easy to find a way out in the sometimes dense fog, that is created by the cold ice.
We used all our senses and suddenly heard some surf, expecting it from the swell that crashes against the outer line of the pack. Like this, we had an idea about the shortest distance out of the pack and in which direction to navigate to get free and back in open waters. The radar was useless because the flat pack didn’t reflect the signal very well.
Close to the limit of the pack ice the fog disappeared. From the top of the mast, we could see the open sea but at first no way through the last barrier of ice. It took Dario a while to study the ice to define the most promising channel to risk an attempt.
All hands were on deck, outfitted with fenders and a stick to push the ice. Thanks to the great team work of each crew member, we managed to come through. Congratulations to Sabine+, Veronika, Mjriam, Johanna, Jana, Salina, Alegra, Mia, Carl, Dario, Andri, and Noe!
We changed our strategy and sailed Northeast in open waters along the edge of the pack. From an older satellite picture, we hoped that we have a chance to get through this belt of ice coming more from the North into Scoresby Sound. Unfortunately, it did not get better and we changed course on 70 N / 20 W towards Grimsey Island at the Arctic Circle.
About Grimsey Island at the Arctic Circle:
How to prep a fish and how we got to Siglufjördur and Akureyri?:
About the Beached Whale at the Northern Shore of Iceland from where we set sail Northeast towards Greenland:
About the Tourist Rescue and Family Hug visiting while we were still based in Isafjördur:
We are now in Akuyeri in the North of Iceland, where we expecting our 6th child around the 21st of August. You can reach us with “what’s up” on +1 415 516 36 79 or on our Icelandic mobile +354 833 01 58.
Latest News in Iceland:
Hafa búið um borð í skútu í 17 ár (17 years on a sailboat)
Sjö ára á toppi Hvannadalshnjúks (Seven years at the top of Hvannadalshnjúp)