On this trip, there were certain items that we found indispensable.
Some of these items were recommendations from Mark, the skipper Barny sailed in the Northwest passage with last summer - a Dutch sailor/ boat builder who had spent 10 years sailing round Svalbard. Other items we have found surprisingly useful during our own experience of cold weather sailing.
These are items of clothing recommended for everyone sailing in cold climes:
1. Merino wool thermal underwear (can be worn non-stop for over two weeks without significant pong-age.)
2. Down-type jacket (either Primaloft -which is synthetic, and remains warm even when wet; or real down - which is noticeably warmer, but less tolerant of getting wet and much more bulky.)
3. Thick socks - 2.4 Tog socks aka 'heat holders' (note, more layers of socks does not equal warmer feet)
4. Buff - a 'neckerchief' type device, preferably of fleece material. This makes a surprising difference to warmth.
Essential kit for the boat:
1. Gun ( and people who have recently refreshed their knowledge of how to use said gun < the NRA run a relevant and entertaining polar bear shooting course in Bisley, Surrey>)
2. Bad Elf GPS widget for iPad - In our experience this is a reliable and accurate GPS device which interacts well with charts available for the iPad. We have experienced innumerable occasions both around the UK and elsewhere in the world when a charter boat's inbuilt GPS has failed and the Bad Elf has proved a valuable back up. In Svalbard, the boat's electronic charts ended at 79.30 degrees north, the charts on the iPad extended to at least 80 degrees north!
3. Ice axe - essential for hacking up icebergs into G&T sized chunks
4. Strategic twine reserve (no boat should ever be without this, it can fix more than you might initially imagine)
5. Propelling pencil (one pencil to rule them all....)
6. Red peppers (currently retailing at £8 per individual red pepper in Longyearbean supermarket - definitely room for an import business here!)
7. Massive Telephoto lenses and high power binoculars (you will be very glad you have these)
8. A vast number of camera memory cards (to go with the telephoto lens...)
9. Whiskey and chillies (for added internal fire, much appreciated in the arctic)
10. Additional numerous tea towels (nothing dries in this weather...)
11. As a pilot book, we highly recommend 'Den Norske Los 7' - for Svalbard and Jan Mayen. This is published jointly by the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Norwegian Hydrographic Service and is available in English for the non-Norwegian speakers. As well as excellent sailing, navigating and anchoring/ harbour information, it also has useful wildlife guides and a wealth of information on arctic weather patterns, ice and polar sailing. It is an engaging read if you have an interest in Polar adventures.
Some of these items were recommendations from Mark, the skipper Barny sailed in the Northwest passage with last summer - a Dutch sailor/ boat builder who had spent 10 years sailing round Svalbard. Other items we have found surprisingly useful during our own experience of cold weather sailing.
These are items of clothing recommended for everyone sailing in cold climes:
1. Merino wool thermal underwear (can be worn non-stop for over two weeks
2. Down-type jacket (either Primaloft -which is synthetic, and remains warm even when wet; or real down - which is noticeably warmer, but less tolerant of getting wet and much more bulky.)
3. Thick socks - 2.4 Tog socks aka 'heat holders' (note, more layers of socks does not equal warmer feet)
4. Buff - a 'neckerchief' type device, preferably of fleece material. This makes a surprising difference to warmth.
Essential kit for the boat:
1. Gun ( and people who have recently refreshed their knowledge of how to use said gun < the NRA run a relevant and entertaining polar bear shooting course in Bisley, Surrey>)
2. Bad Elf GPS widget for iPad - In our experience this is a reliable and accurate GPS device which interacts well with charts available for the iPad. We have experienced innumerable occasions both around the UK and elsewhere in the world when a charter boat's inbuilt GPS has failed and the Bad Elf has proved a valuable back up. In Svalbard, the boat's electronic charts
3. Ice axe - essential for hacking up icebergs into G&T sized chunks
4. Strategic twine reserve (no boat should ever be without this, it can fix more than you might initially imagine)
5. Propelling pencil (one pencil to rule them all....)
6. Red peppers (currently retailing at £8 per individual red pepper in Longyearbean supermarket - definitely room for an import business here!)
7. Massive Telephoto lenses and high power binoculars (you will be very glad you have these)
8. A vast number of camera memory cards (to go with the telephoto lens...)
9. Whiskey and chillies (for added internal fire, much appreciated in the arctic)
10. Additional numerous tea towels (nothing dries in this weather...)
11. As a pilot book, we highly recommend 'Den Norske Los 7' - for Svalbard and Jan Mayen. This is published jointly by the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Norwegian Hydrographic Service and is available in English for the non-Norwegian speakers. As well as excellent sailing, navigating and anchoring/ harbour information, it also has useful wildlife guides and a wealth of information on arctic weather patterns, ice and polar sailing. It is an engaging read if you have an interest in Polar adventures.
Location:Arctic
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