June 25 + 26 - Open Sea to Murmansk

 

June 25
81.5-79 degrees N 

June 26 - Murmansk, Russia
79-69 degrees N

Last night five of us stayed on the Bow until 1:00am to experience the majestic beauty of sailing through the icebergs in the Austrian Channel. 

The 25th and 26th were days at sea. We are in open water, making our way back to Murmansk. 

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Traveling into open water through Franz Josef Land towards Murmansk. 

Traveling into open water through Franz Josef Land towards Murmansk. 

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The sea is calm and we are all trying to get ready for the reality of cell phones, internet and the news.

This trip has been THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME…

So few have ever reached the North Pole… so many things could have gone wrong. Weather, thick ice that cannot be broken, timing...

All went perfectly well. The first to ever be at the North Pole during Summer Solstice. The third earliest voyage to reach the North Pole. The 53rd surface vehicle ever to reach the North Pole. Pretty amazing!
 

I would like to share with you some of my favorite images.
I am glad you enjoyed the voyage. 

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The landscape of Svalbard captured during 3 days of aerial photography. 

The landscape of Svalbard captured during 3 days of aerial photography. 

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Blue and green Ice, mesmerising glaciers, and the landscape of the North Pole.

Blue and green Ice, mesmerising glaciers, and the landscape of the North Pole.

 
Diane Tuft