Ice, baby. Ice.

This is from a recent trip one of my friends did. Next year its our turn to sail among ice and bears in Svalbard.

 

Norwegians fjords on top

No surprise for those of us who sail and ski in the fjords, but it is always good to be recognized by National Geographic. They have just rated the Norwegian Fjords on top of the list “world’s most celebrated and iconic travel destinations”.
We hope this gives the local tourism industry a boost – but not to much. Some of the beauty lies in the fact that it isn’t exploited. And we like to keep it that way.

Something for you?

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMwAStTdNeY]
We are planing a circumnavigation of the archipelago for three weeks in August-Septembre 2010. Interested? We are off course not talking about a huge cruise ship filled with people. Just our yacht in an exclusive expedition.

The snow is on its way

While we are waiting for the first snow; Here’s pictures from our latest trip.

Explore North joins High Latitude

The focus on exclusive expeditions and yachtowners who want to sail above the polar circle in Norway is growing fast. High Latitudes, a renowned yacht consultancy and management service company, have strengthen their expertize in the area with Explore North.

Be prepared with High Latitudes and Explore North

High Latitudes is specialising in sailing in Antarctica, the Arctic and other remote destinations. In the recent years they have had a number of clients going to Spitsbergen and North Norway in their own boats. This year they have one client who they have helped all the way from finding for the right boat, buying, refitting and now he on his way towards his goal: Next year he will be casting off from Tromsø and sailing North to Spitsbergen.

- We also specialize in assisting with design and construction of new build yachts. The last year the downturn in the market has put the breaks on new builds. But on the other hand we have a lot of clients who want to use their boats to explore distant shores. Norway and Spitsbergen is a very attractive destination for those, says Richard Haworth, partner and cofounder of High Latitudes.

The company has a wide range of experience, based on many years spent exploring the world’s most inaccessible places. Their current clients include owners looking to build and prepare their yachts for lifetime expeditions, super yacht skippers seeking new exciting sailing destinations and those looking for a different approach to yacht management.

- With Jon Amtrup and his company Explore North on board we can offer even more in-depth knowledge about sailing in Norway. He has exctensive first hand experience from the Norwegian coast sailing there both summer and winter. He will be assisting our clients with expedition support, says Haworth.

Jon Amtrup founded Explore North two years ago to show adventoruous sailors and outdoor people the magnificent combination mountaineering and sailing in one of the world most beautiful areas.

- In the winter we take our guests, either in their own boats or in our expedition equipped boats, on Ski & Sail tours in Sunnmøre Alps. Here you can practicaly walk of the deck with your skies on and accent an untouched mountain. Our aim is to deliver the best experiences when it comes to exploring above the polar circle to our clients, says Jon Amtrup.

Amtrup is a licenced skipper, diver, writer and photographer who has been sailing since childhood. The last years he has equipped and sailed his Ovni 435 in the high latitudes with both guests and friends. This winter he has been assigned by a publishing house to write the harbour guide between Bergen and Kirkenes.

Amtrup has seen a rise in foreign yachts sailing above the polar circle in the recent years in the summer time.

- As the yachts has been bigger and the owner more adventourous they have turned their bows to more remote locations. If you want to experience whale watching, diving, wave surfing, mountain hiking, skiing, climbing and fishing under a sun that shines 24/7; Northern Norway is the place to visit. Togheter with all the knowledge in High Latitudes we can make sure you get the most out of your adventure, says Amtrup.

Winter is coming

While we all wait for winter, we can enjoy this video from a Ski & Sail expedition on the Pagan.

Serviced all the way home

This week Explore North assisted a sailor with inspecting the boat before he bought it, dived under the boat to check for cracks and other faulths, and provided the owner and crew with weather routing as the delivered the boat from Oslo to Bergen.

The services delivered where mainly security related. The under water inspection gave the proud new owner confidence in his boat, and the weather routing made sure that he avoided the worst gale, but still could get to Bergen within the time he had available.

This is services we also will provide for other sailors in the future. More on this later.

On a clima mission

Trond Aasvoll, Hans Fredrik Haukland and Finn Andreassen is cuurently on a mission to circumnavigate the Northpole in one season. Right now they are stuck in the ice in the North East Passage, but the according to the ice reports they should be able to get loose in the next couple of days. You can follow them on SPOT and on Yachtbook.
Explore North is handling communication and PR for the project, and there is a good possibility that the knowledge Aasvoll and his friends get from this expedition can be use for other Explore North expeditions.

Trond Aasvoll,Hans Fredrik Haukland and Finn Andreassen is sailing the North East and North West passage in one season.

Magic about the white stuff

Words not necessary. Just watch.

Getting prepared for Ski and sail 2010

Explore Norths season in Lofoten with Sail and climb/hike is soon over and we will point our bow towards the west coast of Norway for the winter again in mid August. The boat will be based in Bergen for the winter, giving us easy access to some of the best Ski & Sail areas in our part of the world.

Perfect moments. Photo: Emma Rodling

Together with our UIAGM guides we have put together a six nightlong expeditions that will take you to a number of classical peaks and excellent runs. We start in Ålesund and take you right in to the heart of Sunnmørsalpene, and then we sail in towards Isfjorden and Romsdalen and end the expedition in Åndalsnes.

Please see our Ski and Sail 2010 page for more information about these expeditions. We also arrange tours and expeditions in other parts of Norway. The good thing about sailboats is that they are environmental friendly, silent and highly movable.

Our main season starts in February and ends in the begining of May. All trips can be tailor made to your needs and skills.

Please contact us if you have questions or just want to book a trip.

Hans Christian Wilson, UIAGM guide, leading the way up. Photo: Emma Rodling