As Promised the summary of our passage in pictures and details of our arrival in Longyearbyen.

After the engine trouble and the solution we arrived in Longyearbjen around 11:50 pm Norwegian local time. Eddy was waiting for us on the quay and joined us for some roast lamb supper, it being too late to go into town for a beer or food. The tired sailors were pleading exhaustion at 01:30 and fell asleep to the sound of a container ship unloading while Eddy walked back to his hotel. Waking the next morning we found that the ship had been replaced by a cruise liner parked conveniently right across our stern  - meaning that we could not leave port. in any case we had many errands to run!

Eddy conveniently had a hotel room with hot showers that we plundered followed by breakfast in the Radisson Blu. Strangely the floor was not at 45 degrees and (Fiona) felt terribly stationary.

James checked in with the Sysselmann and collected our permits to travel further us the north coast while Eddy and Fiona did the run to the local supermarket running the gauntlet of all the tourists discharged from their Cruise Liner. We then collected our gun (it’s got a wooden stock, and is stamped 1942, with a 3rd Reich eagle symbol!!) from Paulsen.

Chores done, we went for a beer in the sunshine and then departed for other fjords – but that’s tomorrow’s story. For now it feels incredible to have sailed all the way here, realised a 39 year old dream and had the fun of meeting up with Eddy who came a VERY long way for a beer.

We have had to do text-only blog messages while at sea, so here are some photographs taken during  the voyage:

Dolphins playing round the bows of Awelina as we left Stornoway

Cape Wrath was visible in the distance and the day was sunny with a gentle breeze.

Some of the bread made while on passage

The Skua we mentioned seeing during the passage to Shetland

In Shetland the coastline sported some fantastic rock formations:

We took advantage of the brief sunshine Crossing the Norwegian Deep, suitably stripped down for the temperature.

Writing the Blog at Awelina’s chart table

Roast lamb on port tack: the fire blanket is vertical

Arctic circle picnic as we crossed 66° 33.8’ North

Off duty

Rough weather from the cockpit

Dressed to kill ? It was cold !!

Nonetheless James’ bath-time was in the cockpit with a bucket.

As far as the sun can set before it becomes sunrise – approaching Isfjord

We arrive at the waypoint – Entrance to Svalbard. A year in the making

IsFjord – Two views:

Raising the Norwegian courtesy flag on approaching Longyearbyen. Note the glacier in the background!

Awelina Approaches the shore at Longyearbjen (© Eddy Collier)

Tired happy crew: it took this long

Walking through Longyearbjen doing chores, Eddy carrying the rifle.

A  welcome beer after the abstinence