I thought it was about time to post another blog. Somehow, now we are basically delivering the boat

to her winter quarters, there doesn’t seem to be the same imperative to share information and

experiences as when on a full on expedition.

 

We had a pleasant week day sailing (motoring mostly) down the coast of Greenland. We stopped at

a couple of towns, Sisimiut and Maniitsoq, and two fabulous anchorages. As we were ‘on passage’

we didn’t launch the dinghy and go ashore, but it has been a good recce for our return.

 

We have at last found the time to fish, and what a result. Armed with rig suggested by son-in-law

Theo, a keen sea fisherman, we simply had to place the boat on the 40 meter contour, cut the

engine, drop the line, and bang, two cod, every time. As we were only fishing for the pot, two was

quite enough per attempt and the whole exercise took about 15 minutes, tops. Fresh cod for supper

– you can’t beat it.

 

We set off from Maniitsoq just over two days ago for Lewisporte, Newfoundland. We know of at

least one other boat there that is intending to overwinter there. We are sailing due South, almost down

the middle of the Davis Strait, avoiding the icebergs that drift down the Labrador Coast. Our latitude

now is just South of the northern tip of the Shetlands and we are getting about nine and a half hours

darkness. Trying to spot icebergs in the pitch dark would not be fun.

 

Two nights ago however, we were blessed with a clear sky and saw stars for the first time in months,

with the Great Bear directly over us. What we were not expecting was the most dazzling display of

the Northern Lights. They seemed to fill half the sky, great sheets of flickering, swirling green

luminescence. It lasted for several hours and was quite breath-taking.

 

The weather forecast for the passage is good, although things can always change. We may hit

headwinds on our approach to Lewisporte, but keeping our fingers crossed that this will change by

the time we get there. Only 650 miles to go!