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Sailing
has ever since been a great way to voyage and to explore,
affording lots of flexibility thanks to its independence.
The
Nanuq voyages are not only taylored for sailors, but for all
those who love nature and to visit new places. The boat operates
around the clock with a small crew. Depending on experience
and capabilities all crew members get to become acquainted
with all aspects of running a sailboat: helming and manoeuvring
of course, but also working out the current position of the
boat, obtaining weather forecasts, carrying out repair work,
planning the route to follow, cooking and planning the supplies...
well, all things that make sailing so interesting.
Sailing
We sail
on average 12 h/day, frequently during the night - if
sun sets. We do of course make every effort to avoid storms
and dangerous conditions but apart from that, we sail no matter
whether the sun shines or not.
The boat can be steered from the protected cockpit, which
makes taking a watch with poor weather a far more comfortable
experience than on most sailing boats. We use paper charts,
and position the boat as a rule using dead-reckoning. The
boat is equiped with a radar and sonar. Although there is
a GPS onboard, it is used mainly for anchor watches.
The other
12 h/day are available for visits on land.
Watches
Watches typically last 2 hours.
A watch involves up to 3 persons, depending on the size and
the experience of the crew. While the boat is run by those
on watch, the others can sleep so that the boat remains active
around the clock. This is particularly convenient in the North,
where the sun doesn't really set in summer.
Life on board
Life on board is necessarily
simple - there is no fridge (which would anyhow be useless
in the North), no electric pumps, no warm running water. There
are 1 toilet and 1 bathroom with warm water beeing prepared
in the kitchen in advance.
The boat has two double-cabins
with an extra berth and a big crew cabin for 4, plus 2 backup
berths. Located close to the centre of gravitiy of the boat,
the berths are designed to make rest on sea as comfortable
as possible. Even big persons are confortable with berths
beeing at least 2m in length. Every person has an assigned
berth. The distribution is made according to common sense
or arrangement. If required, rotations can be made during
the leg. For a small extra fee, there is possibility to reserve
a specific berth.
Science on board
During the voyage, various scientific missions will accompany
the crew: observations, sampling, deployment of equipment,
etc. These are activities that will punctuate the days by
contributing to the knowledge of the Arctic world. The Science
page gives details of some of the activities.
The Association
The Nanuq projects are organised
by the non-profit organisation ACAPELA. All participants are
member of ACAPELA and pay to ACAPELA the entry and membership
fees as well as the cost of the travel. In turn ACAPELA organises
the boat, insures it, ensures that wear to the boat is repaired
and buys equipment and charts as needed. The club does not
pay 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.
Interested?
Learn more and follow the guide...
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