Sunday, August 16, 2026

FOG CHANGES THE DAY








 Morning Report : Current Position is 70° 31’ 58.4” N , 22° 30’ 5.0” W, Speed  3.9 kn, COG 174°, Wind 285° at 1.2 m/s. 

Sunny skies are greeting us again this morning. 

We are at Nokkeldal in Hurry Fjord. The plan is to make landings at 0900. 

In the afternoon we will be in Scoresby Sund at 1530. The plan seems open and my guess is cruising about.





I have mentioned Scoresby Sund a good bit so here is a bit more about this location. 

Where is Scoresbysund?


Scoresbysund (also known as Scoresby Sound or Kangertittivaq in greenlandic) is the longest fjord system on Earth located on the east coast of Greenland high above the Arctic circle. It stretches about 350 km (220 miles) inland from the Greenland Sea. Scoresby Sund is known for its stunning natural beauty, with towering cliffs, icebergs, and glaciers, making it a popular destination for tourists and researchers interested in studying the Arctic environment.


Scoresby Sund is situated between Jameson Land to the north and Knud Rasmussen Land to the south. To the west, just beyond Milne Island, you’ll find the Renland peninsula. The terrain encircling the fjord is predominantly mountainous, characterized by steep, ascending edges. 


The entrance measures 29 kilometres in width, extending from Kangikajik (Cape Brewster) at the terminus of the Savoia Peninsula to Uunarteq (Cape Tobin). The southern portion presents an impressive, sheer wall of basalt, soaring between 1000 to 2000 meters (approximately 3,280 to 6,560 feet) in height, while the northern side is comparably lower and possesses more rounded features.

Scoresby Sund is definitely worth visiting. Nowhere else on earth can you experience colossal icebergs floating through narrow fjords framed by some of the planet’s oldest and most majestic landscapes. The wilderness is truly untouched by humans and it offers the explorer a chance to connect with nature in a seldom explored place.


Why Visit: Natural beauty ( an understatement) with its breathtaking natural scenery, which includes towering cliffs, colossal icebergs, glaciers, and pristine Arctic wilderness.
Here you can be one of the few to discover the small settlement of  Ittoqqortoormitt heavily influenced by Inuit traditions . For nine months out of the year, the settlement is completely isolated from the rest of the world due to the sea ice that surrounds it, making it a true symbol of inaccessibility. This is an opportunity to connect with a way of life vastly different from our own and gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity of human culture.


Here one can witness icebergs reaching heights of up to 300 feet above sea level, displaying a range of shades from green to blue. The sheer magnitude and number of icebergs cannot be fully captured by media, and must be experienced in person to truly understand. 


There is no guarantee of encountering wildlife in Greenland, spotting it in its natural habitat is extra special. The region is home to various animals such as musk ox, Arctic hares, and occasionally polar bears. The surrounding seas also harbor  narwhales , which are often referred to as the ‘unicorns of the sea’.


Explore the world’s longest natural fjord and remote wilderness. Scoresby Sund offers a sense of remoteness and solitude which is very hard to explain.  The isolation and untouched landscapes are pure raw nature. 

Due to a very foggy morning and at 1200 still foggy we were unable to make a landing. Thus many of the days activities were moved up. This is an aspect of Expedition Cruising that is to be expected, the Expedition Team moves on to Plan B all they way to Z or more as needed.

1430 - What’s in the. Bag- we can learn what is in the big orange bags the Expedition Team takes ashore for the landings. The large bags and covered bucket/jug carry survival gear for 10 people. There is food and water, flashlights, TP and plastic bags, blankets, thermal pads, an emergency blanket suit and a shelter.  

                                                                   THE BAG
                                                                     WATER
                                  Biscuits for Food , so have a candy bar in your pocket
                                                        Blankets, one for two people
                                                           Thermal Pads
                                                                Headlamps
                                                             Warming Blanket
                                                                       A Shelter 



Lynn had a full lunch in Anue and I had some crackers and cheese. Then I got a HX burger takeaway and had a very private picnic on deck 8.  

1500 - paint our clay creations, Lynn painted hers and I left min plain. 

1630- Discovery Session -The Marine Food Web

1730 - Lecture - Whales and Dolphins of East Greenland

1800 - We were lucky to enjoy another Taste of Greenland Chef’s Table. The same excellent menu was presented, a wonderful meal.  

2030 - Briefing

2045 - Crew Band 

Saturday, August 15, 2026

INTERUPTED BY WHALES

 




 

081526 - Leaving Scoresby Sund 

Morning Report : Current Position is 70° 23’ 40.9” N , 23° 2’ 59.3” W, Speed  8.156 kn, COG 91°, Wind 37° at 1.3 m/s.

Today we are sailing north out of Scoresby Sund to get to Raffles O!. Our planned arrival time is 1400 and we will be doing a nature landing there. 


Days Offerings:

0830 - Wildlife Watch

0915 - Lecture - Beyond Totality - Earth’s Extraordinary Light Shows - This was really interesting till the whales showed up. Will be rescheduled. This resumed at 1745 and was very interesting and enjoyable.  

1015 - Discovery Session - Rocks and Sand Under the Microscope - also interrupted by Whales

1115-1215 Workshop- Lost at Sea - more Whales

All morning sessions were interrupted by whale sightings.

1330 - Discovery Session - Feathers - More Whales 


                                                               a zodiac landing
                                                     briefing about the landing site


                                                        attempts at Iphone creativity
                                                        tracks we found on the beach

                                                              polar bear lookouts

                                                boot was station, must scrub your boots 
                                                         then sanitize your boots




Landing at Raffles O!, basically a beach walk. Very nice, sunny and warm. Lots of tracks in the sand and colorful rocks. The Expedition Team members tried to climb a scree slope but turned around as it was too difficult and slippery for them.  

2030 - Briefing

2045 - Liars Club - truth or fiction

Friday, August 14, 2026

ICE BEAR AND WHAT MAKES THE MUSK OX GUARD HIS MUSK?

 

081426:

 




 

 

Morning Report : Current Position is 71° 51’ 36.1” N , 26° 4’ 51.2” W, Speed  4.5 kn, COG 5°, Wind 258° at 2.3 m/s.










Plan A for this morning is to do a Landing at Jyttehaven. Then the afternoon is Zodiac Cruising at Bjornror ( Bear Island, where we saw the Ice Bear a couple days ago)

We got to the location where we were going to land. This plan was aborted as there was a bear in the area. We spent the next couple hours watching the bear do a polar swim. 

We then sailed away taking a slow scenic cruise. I will say this scenery is spectacular and is enhanced with the ice. I am in total awe as to how beautiful and diverse the landscapes we are enjoying. 

We the got a behind the scenes tour of the ships closed areas. This is offered to us a Platinum Explorers. I was most amazed that on this ship there is only one pastry chef and he and all the galley crew are doing an amazing job. 

                                                           ZODIAC STORAGE BAY 
                             PROVISION STORAGE, MUST PLAN FOR 6 MONTHS OR MORE,                CONSTANT ADJUSTING OF THE SHIPS STORES



                                                         ZODIACS LAUNCHING

                                        ENGINEERING, THE BRAINS OF THE SHIP 
                                                            EMPTY ZODIAC BAY

                         THE GALLEY, QUITE SMALL BUT THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB



                    THE ONE PASTRY CHEF, AMAZING!

1330 - Discovery Session - Fighting the Freeze - missed this due to being outside scenic cruising. 

We then boarded the zodiacs for a hour scenic cruise. The highlight of this cruise. 


                    Lynn's photos of the tour and this guy.
 

Dinner was an amazing seafood buffet, every sort of sea food was available and all excellent. The tuna was great. Our servers have been great, well everyone on board has been super. 

1730 - Lecture - Geopolitics of the Arctic, very interesting so many facets to the politics of this region. 

2030 - Briefing of tomorrows activities. 

2045 Tiny Talk - How old is it? Age determination in rocks.