DAY TWO CROSSING THE GREENLAND SEA:
Current Position is 77° 0’ 45.7” N , 09° 40’45.8” E, Speed 8.448 kn, COG 237°, Wind 109° at 5.8 m/s.
We have clearing skies that are teasing us. One minute we look to be clearing then the next not so much.
TODAY'S PLAN:
Wildlife Watch 0830-0930 Deck 8 - Observed the ever present Fulmar and surprised to have a Ruddy Turnstone on the deck. Unusual as it is a shore bird and we are no where near a shore. There was some snow falling whilst out on deck. We also saw some little auks in the distance.
Photo Scavenger Hunt: 0900-1800 - we grabbed the list and will see what we can find. These events/activities do help one explore the ship.
Mandatory AECO Briefing: 1115 How to responsibly visit the area where we will land.
Lecture - A taste of Greenland - Explorer Bar at 1400-1445 Histories from the Wildest Kitchen in the World, on this sailing there will be a Chef’s Table dining based on regional Greenland offerings.
WAFFLES AT 1500!!!
Lecture - Solar Eclipses- Cosmic Shadow Plays 1615 Explorer Bar. Most excellent information was presented in this lecture. There is a lot to a Solar Eclipse and some amazing patterns.
Wildlife Watch - Deck 8 at 1700 We did not make this as we went to the Sextant presentation.
Workshop - 1700 Build Your Own Sextant - Science Center. Great information about navigation and how a sextant works.
2015 - 2030 Plans for Today and Mandatory Small Expedition Boat Safety Briefing - Explorer Bar
Tiny Talk: The Sirius Patrol. The Cutest Patrol in the World - Explorer Bar at 2035.
The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, whilst a Danish Special Operations Force, are incredibly diversified in mission and training. Operators have to be highly specialized in many different skills to account for the challenging conditions and varied obstacles that they may face. As of 2020, the unit has undertaken incredibly unforgiving missions for 70 years. As a result of this extensive experience, this unique unit is one of the most elite Special Forces. Indeed, it can be argued that the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol is the Jack of All Trades, and Master of All.
The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol (Slædepatruljen Sirius) is an elite Danish Special Operations unit.Operating in the brutal terrain of Northeast Greenland, they are the world's only military dog sled unit. They are tasked with enforcing Danish sovereignty and conducting long-range patrols in the world's largest national park.
How They Operate
Size & Scope: The unit consists of only 12 men divided into six two-man teams. Together, they cover over 16,000 km of uninhabited Arctic wilderness each year.
Extreme Conditions: Patrolling is conducted using heavy, powerful Greenlandic sled dogs pulling up to 400 kg of cargo. Temperatures can plunge below -50°C.
Complete Isolation: Teams spend up to five consecutive months on the ice without any human contact, relying entirely on themselves for survival, dentistry, and equipment maintenance.
Gear: Because they are completely on their own, they carry heavy-caliber weapons explicitly for protection against polar bears.
Training & Selection
Rigorous Qualifying: Out of roughly 50 military applicants each year, only a small, select group is chosen for the intensive preparation school.
Skill Sets: Selection isn't just about physical strength; candidates need practical skills (such as mechanics and carpentry) and psychological resilience to survive being isolated with one partner for months. Including Veterinarian skills.
Tour of Duty: Members commit to an uninterrupted 26-month tour of duty with zero visits home, internet, or cell phones.
History
World War II Origins: Originally formed informally in 1941, the unit's primary mission was to find and report Nazi weather stations hidden in Greenland.
The Cold War: The unit was officially made a permanent branch of the Danish Armed Forces in 1950 to secure Denmark's territorial claims amid rising tensions.
Headquarters: Their main base of operations, Daneborg, is located on the east coast of Greenland, with summer satellite stations operating further south.
