BT - Official satellite telecom supplier to Clipper Ventures

Another exciting day it seems for the crews on the Greenland Expedition - life will seem very dull I'm sure when they return!

David Cullen

BT - Official satellite telecom supplier to Clipper Ventures

Ariel 2301GMT 17 Jul

Position 65 36N 37 37W

From Sir Robin Knox-Johnston - Skipper

After a night hove to we set sail to the North, sighting whales blowing on the way, and four hours later ran in to thickish brash ice. Huge icebergs lay to the east, behind them was a vast ice wall - which turned out to be a mirage!

We ran in to some Inuit hunters on the edge who told us we could get through the 7 miles of ice, contrary to what the ice centre in Reykjavik had told us, so we decided to have a go. Two hours later, thanks to some excellent spotting by Alex (Mate aboard Ariel), from atop the mast, we were through and were able to motor in to Angmagssalik, arriving there at 1630 hrs.

There is little here, only a few shops, and the crews are planning to go ashore and do some walking and climbing tomorrow. We will also move to one of the other fjords as soon as the ice, which has now moved in and blocked us here (shades of Appilattoq!) allows.

Everyone happy,

Regards

RKJ

From Miklaj Huras - 18 year old crew member from Poland

We woke yesterday morning after night watches. Everyone has 1 ½ hours. The worst I think is the twilight one between 1am and 2.30am. But we were full of life after so many hours sleep.

It was 8am when we hoisted the sails and headed for Angmagssalik. At about 11am we got to the ice barrier. It started with only a few ice pieces but after about two hundred metres the ice got more dense and started causing us problems. One of our crew had to climb the mast and watch out for icebergs and look for a better way through. For more than two hours the pack ice (and it is an appropriate name for it) proved troublesome, but we then managed to break out of it and get to our destination.

It is a small village in a big rocky mountain, which lies over a very deep bay - sometimes exceeding 200 metres, all covered in pack ice and small ice bergs, which got lost on their trip from the North Pole and haven't yet melted! When we arrived at the pier there were many inhabitants wlecoming us. It was really great! So many people standing, smiling at us and trying to help us as much as they could. After two hours we had to move to let two ferries in. We were looking around the bay for somewhere to anchor but because of the current and icebergs being swept in this just wasn't possible. After two hours hard work there was nothing for it but to return to the harbour. In the end we moored up alongside the ferries.

Tomorrow we are planning a walk up the glacier and then up the peak of the 1000ft high moutain. All those going want to reach the top! So watch this space!

Mikolaj

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