Photos (c) peter gallinelli - Greenland expedition 2003

     

Arctic sail adventure & mountain expedition

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 The passive igloo

The boat
SAT charts
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Contact

Imram 2003-2010 is a visit to the last truely wild, and therefore relatively unknown, areas of the Northern hemisphere. One still finds here extended uncharted regions. Surprisingly, the islands in the N Atlantic are much affected by human activity. Global heating is already changing these places, and will in the foreseeable future drastically modify them further. Besides being interesting from the sailing point of view, one of our goals is to observe and document these changes while they happen.

Our itinerary sofar followed the tracks of the first Europeans to visit the New World. Starting from Ireland between the 5th and 7th century, using leather boats, the Hebrides and the Føroyar were colonised. From the 9th century on, the Norse peoples went to Iceland and then Greenland. We also followed the 16th and 17th century Dutch whaling fleet who visited Jan Mayen and Svalbard, where we passed 80° N. On return, we spent considerable time along the Norwegian coast.

Interactive map:


Map source: http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/arctic_topography_and_bathymetry

WARNING:

The information provided on this website should not let you forget that sailing in arctic regions is very dangerous for reasons such as, but not limited to, extreme weather, cold, ice, lack of help or assistance, and poor charting.

Decisions to cruise the high latitudes, where you go, and how you prepare yourself and your boat, are yours and yours alone. The information provided is based on our experience but does not mean that it is the best way to do or that it will work for you.

The authors shall not be held liable for any injuries, damages or losses resulting from the use of information provided on this website.

Navigation: Thanks to its closed cockpit, from where the boat can be manoeuvred with comfort also when it is cold and wet outside, we're not limited to sailing when the sun shines. We do of course try and avoid storms and other dangerous conditions. All crew is expected to take part in all activities: helming, manoeuvres, positioning, weather bulletins, repair work, buying food supplies, cooking etc.

Life on board is necessarily simple - the boat is comfortable, yet without luxury. There are 3 cabins with 2 places each and crew members tend to move around with their sleeping bag, picking the most comfortable place that happens to be free. There is just one toilet onboard, but it is truely big. There is no fridge nor warm flowing water. The boat has a central heater.

Watches are from 2 to 4 hours long and the boat operates around the lock, which is convenient in the North, where the sun doesn't really set, so as to optimise visits on land.

The Imram outings are organised by the non-profit àCAPela club. All participants are member of àCAPela and pay to àCAPela the entry and membership fees as well as the cost of the travel. In turn àCAPela charters the boat, insures it, ensures that damage to the boat is repaired, buys the basic food supplies, pays communication fees, and buys equipment and charts as needed. There is no external sponsoring. The club does not pay for Diesel, additional food, harbour fees, canal fees, travel by the members to and from the ports of call etc. These expenses are as appropriate either payed directly by the members or shared amongst them.

We report on our travels via http://imram.sailworks.net, via lectures (for the YCC in 2003 and 2004) and via articles in the specialised press (Loisirs Nautiques 12/2004, SEIL magasinet 09/2004).


Photos (c) peter gallinelli et pierre-marie bourguinat 1995 et 2001

Some of the places visited so far: St Malo, Isles of Scilly, Isle of Man, Isle of Jura, Isle of Skye, Føroyar, Iceland, Grimsey, Greenland, Ammassalik, Kangerdluggsuaq, , Mikis Fjord, Blosseville coast, Scoresby Sund, Jan Mayen, Lofoten, Bjørnøya, Spitzbergen, Moffen, 80°N, North-East territories of Svalbard, Hinlopen Stretet, Norway, Shetland Isles, Orkneys, Scotland W and E coast, W coast of Ireland, Bretagne, Lewis, St. Kilda...

Past seasons:

 Programme for 2010: Sail & Ski Norway
Leg 26 27 28-29
  Ski-sail  Sail-ski  Sail 
From Bodø   Tromsø   Tromsø  
Destination Tromsø  Tromsø  Tromsø 
Via
Lofoten
Nord Kapp
Murmansk
Distance [nm]
400
600
2000
Departure date
SAT april 17
SUN may 2nd
mid july
Arrival date
SAT may 1st
SAT may 15th
august

Total duration: 6 to 8 weeks.
The ski and sail cruise will take place on board ZERO, visit
http://www.zeroalinfini.com/
Summer Murmansk on the IMRAM.

 Programme for 2009: Shetland - Norway
Leg 25
  Sail - Trek 
From Kirkwall 
Destination Bodø 
Via
Ålesund
Distance [nm]
700
Departure date
31 july
Arrival date
15 august
Narrative
n/a
   

Total duration: 2 weeks.

 Programme for 2008: Skagerak - Norway - Shetland - Scotland
No étape 21 22 23 24
  Sailing  Family sailing Sailing Sailing
Départ København  Stavanger Bergen Kirkwall
Destination Stavanger  Bergen Kirkwall Crinan
Via
Lindesnes
SW Fjords
Lerwik
Pentland Firth
Distance milles nautiques
500
150 (400)
350
350
Date départ
DIM 06 july
DIM 14 july
SAM 27 july
MA 5 august
Date arrivée
DIM 14 july
SAM 27 july
MA 5 august
MA 19 august
Narrative
n/a
n/a

Total duration: 7 weeks.

Deailed calendar :

 Programme for 2007: Baltic, Gulf of Bothnia, Gulf of Finland
Leg 16 17 18 19 20
  Sailing & snow Family sailing Sailing Sailing Sailing culture
From Lübeck Stockholm Luleå Söderhamn Helsinki
Destination Stockholm Luleå Söderhamn Helsinki Nyköping
Via
Karlskrona
G de Bothnie
Mariehamn
St Peterburg
Distance [nm]
600
450
400
735
815
Departure date
DIM 01 april
ME 11 july
JE 26 july
ME 01 august
JE 09 august
Arrival date
ME 11 april
SAM 21 july
MA 31 july
MA 07 august
JE 23 august
Narrative

Notes:

  • Legs 16 and 17 intend to see the Gulf of Bothnia over Easter, when the ice starts to break up. The point of arrival depends on the ice and weather conditions.
  • Legs 18, 19 and 20 are the summer program with the Northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic states.
Total duration: 9 weeks.

For further information please contact asso@sailworks.net

 Programme for 2006: Ireland, Scotland, Føroyar and Norway
Leg 13 14 15
  Sailing Sailing Sailing
From Brest Lochboysdale Stonehaven
Destination Lochboysdale Stonehaven Lübeck
Via
Ireland
Føroyar
Norway
Distance [nm]
760
1050
940
Departure date
13 Jul
27 Jul
17 Aug
Arrival date
26 Jul
16 Aug
1 Sep
Map & narrative

Total duration: 7 weeks.

 Programme for 2005: Norway, Scotland and Ireland
Leg 10 11 12
  Sailing Sailing/Canal Sailing
From Tromsø Florø Oban
Destination Florø Oban St.Malo
Via
Lofoten
Shetland
W Ireland
Distance [nm]
750
500
1100
Departure date
29 May
10 Jun
21 Jul
Arrival date
10 Jun
21 Jun
5 Jul
Map & narrative

Total duration: 6 weeks. The programme is constrained by a return to France in July. As a result, departure from Norway is early, which has the advantage that the days are long and also that there still is snow in the mountains.

 Programme for 2004: - Greenland - Jan Mayen - Svalbard - 80°N - Norway
Leg 6 7 8 9
  Expedition Expedition Expedition Expedition
From Rekjavik Lofoten Svalbard Svalbard
Destination Lofoten Svalbard Svalbard Narvik
Via
Jan-Mayen
Bjørnøya
Hinlopen Stretet
North Cape
Distance [nm]
1200
750
550
750
Departure date
11 Jul
26 Jul
7 Aug
20 Aug
Arrival date
25 Jul
6 Aug
19 Aug
1 Sep
Map & narrative

The dates are, like in 2003, a compromise: on the one hand, we have to arrive when the pack ice has disappeared, which happens rather late here, but we also need day light and good weather conditions, both of which are more easily found early in the season. Total duration: 10 weeks.

 Programme for 2003: Scotland - Iceland - Greenland
Leg 1 2 3 4 + 5
  Delivery Delivery Expedition Expedition
From St. Malo Lofoten Reykjavik Angmassalik
Destination Lofoten Reykjavik Kulusuk Reykjavik
Via
Jan-Mayen
Føroyar
Paul-Emile Victor's house
Kangerdlugssuaq
Distance [nm]
1000
1200
800
800
Departure date
23 Jun
7 Jul
21 Jul
11 Aug
Arrival date
4 Jul
18 Jul
8 Aug
5 Sep
Map & narrative

The dates are a compromise: on the one hand, we have to arrive when the pack ice has disappeared, which happens rather late here, but we also need day light and good weather conditions, both of which are more easily found early in the season. Total duration: 12 weeks.

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