EXPEDITION TO THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
View the Expedition TRACK – click here
The Global Offshore Sailing Team sailed up to the most Northern partially ice-free place of this planet – the pack-ice border. The international team remembered all sailors who bravely explored and fought in this fragile and dangerous environment.
With this Expedition a platform of intercultural and interdisciplinary exchange for Arctic Enthusiasts such as Historians, Environmental Scientists, Sailors within Governments, NGO’s, Navies, Associations or just out of personal interest has been created.
A special focus lies on the following topics:
Historic Research: During the first leg of Expedition “Arctic Ocean Raptor” (AOR), the Global Offshore Sailing Team sailed in the tradition of a number of past and well renown Arctic discoverers and researchers to the pack-ice border on 80°50,8’N.
Commemoration: 75th Anniversary: Commemoration of all seamen of all nations who fought in the 2nd World War Arctic Battle during the time of the Arctic Convoys
Environmental Awareness & Offshore Sailing: Sailing to the most northern reachable, partially ice-free points on Planet Earth. Public awareness about the real meltdown of pack ice in Arctic summers will be raised by sailing with a fiberglass sailing yacht to a point just 540 nautical miles or 1.000km away from the North Pole.
I’m interested in finding out more about this expedition – as a grand-daughter of a Royal Navy Commander who took part in the Arctic Convoy. I’m a freelance writer & academic researcher too. My father is mobility impaired but loves boats so wonder if this will be an able-disabled integrated trip (e.g. As per the Jubilee Sailing Trust, whom we’ve crewed with)
Thank you,
Dr. Eli Merchant
Dear Dr. Merchant, Thanks a lot for your interest in Expedition ARCTIC OCEAN RAPTOR. We would like to offer an opportunity to you your father, but unfortunately the size and equipment of the Expedition yacht does not allow the organization to think about an abled disabled integrated safe journey in extreme Arctic conditions.
It would be a pleasure for us to offer you the opportunity to fill a special section on the Expeditions Website honoring your grandfather by publishing his story. Our Chief Historian Bernd Lehman will contact you on this topic. Best Regards, Jochen Werne – Skipper & Expedition Leader
Good Afternoon Dr Eli Merchant,
the Expedition leader, Mr Jochen Werne has mentioned in his response to your comment that I will get in contact with you. Please reply to me for further discussion about the story of your Grand-father such that we can further elaborate for possible inclusion on our web-site.
My address is blehmann_nl@web.de
Thanks.
Best regards
Bernd Lehmann
Chief Historian of the GOST and the Expedition
I would be interested in finding out more about your expedition. I’ve just written a novel on the Arctic convoys and have family connections with Loch Ewe, where many of the convoys sailed from. My great-grandfather was captain of HMS Rodney, which I believe escorted a convoy to Murmansk in 1944. I am also in touch with some veterans.
Good evening Ms. de Haan,
and welcome to Expedition Arctic Ocean Raptor. Our Chief Liaison Officer Dr. Michael Schuellermann ( http://arcticoceanraptor.com/sample-page/expedition-corps/dr-michael-schuellermann ) will get directly in contact with you. In a first step we also can recommend visiting the Website and Social Media channels of our Expedition Partner the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum Project ( http://arcticoceanraptor.com/partners/russian-arctic-convoy-museum-project ) which you might already know. Best Regards, Jochen Werne – Skipper & Expedition Leader
Dear Mrs. de Haan,
thank you for your kind comment on Expedition ARCTIC OCEAN RAPTOR. We are very interested in learning about HMS Rodney and her Captain! I will get in touch with you via e-mail – would you be interested to contribute a part of your novel to this website?
Best regards, Michael Schüllermann
I’m starting a second tapestry weaving project of the Russian Arctic Convoys, with weavings being produced for next year that hopefully will be exhibited in different venues. But this time round I’m wanting to find out about classical music associated with the sea……….from those who know what it is like to sail in the Arctic Ocean. This may sound an odd question, but for me weaving and listening to music go together.
Any recommended pieces of music by crew members or any other explorers in Arctic waters?
Many thanks,
Katie Russell
Dear Katie, that sounds like a gorgeous idea. We will amke a short brainstorming and come back to you. All the best
Menos de 24 horas faltan para que tenga lugar un acontecimiento de singular y transcendental importancia internacional, la expedición Arctic Ocean Raptor, un merecido homenaje de la humanidad a aquellos hombres y mujeres que ofrendaron sus valiosas vidas en uno de los episodios más dramático de aquel devastador conflicto que supuso la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Arctic Ocean Raptor recorrerá con sus embarcaciones el escenario de aquellos acontecimientos liderados por Global Offshore Sailing Team, ratificando así una vez más, que los hombres y mujeres de bien, jamás olvidaremos y estaremos eternamente agradecidas. ¡Gloria Eterna a los héroes y mártires de la hazaña de los Convoyes del Artico! Dios bendiga a GOST.
My late brother, a graduate of the King’s Point Merchant Marine Academy, was Second Mate on the Thomas Hooker ( a United Fruit ship) that was used to carry ammunition, bombs and such during WW II. She might even have been in he earlier reply,
re; Murmansk. This was during the U-boat time, when a horrendous number of ships were lost , both to submarines, and enemy aircraft. Some ships had a U.S.Navy anti-aircraft crew, fore and aft. Enemy pilots were instructed to strafe the Navy crews first, then the ship. As the Hooker was loaded with explosives, and tied up to the dock at Murmansk, if she got hit,obviously, she was history. The injured Navy gunner got the plane, but not before she dropped a bomb. It missed and went through the dock, and deep into the mud, harmlessly .
Incidentally, the empty Thomas Hooker, returning home, without convoy, broke in two and sank. Her co-ordinates are listed in a library book listing ships lost during that war.
Second Mate Sherman Sawyer and his lifeboat full of crew members were picked up a week or so later, by a British Corvette. So, I am interested in your historic journey. Good Luck and Fair Winds to you all. Bud Sawyer