We reached Akureyri… 26th June 2016

After a long and quite strenuous crossing, we reached Iceland and the harbour of Akureyri on the North coast of Iceland. If our 800nm passage would have been more pleasant with stronger winds, Iceland kept its promises with stunning landscapes.

19th June – Coming from Switzerland, Majorca, Moscow and the UK, the team gathered in Bodø, all eager to get going and take Boreal further West. After a nice meal and a few Mack beers, here we are on board trying to get the boat ready in time for the next morning. Small world … I met Dominique R. on the pontoon who knew me when I was 10!

20th June – This is the day! Rachel and Karl have gone to get the last supplies, mainly the most missing wine and beers. Meanwhile, Andrey is in town looking for a USB cable that could help us connect the iridium satphone. Steve and I are are topping up the diesel. Premonition, foresight…

Finally waving goodbye to Bodø, which has been very welcoming through the winter, and also to Eric and Olena, the owners of Celena, a Boreal 44 that is also heading towards Iceland.

That first afternoon started on the wrong foot when the NKE autopilot started playing funny and decided to trigger the MOB (man over board) procedure on its own accord and turn around Boreal back to Bodø. Not exactly a good sign before you head offshore with muted appetite for staying at the helm. Well, after a phone call with a patient gentleman at NKE technical support, and much faffing around, here we decided to disconnect some of the peripheral units. Alas… the problem will persist and the NKE regularly showed a man o.b. 50nm behind us.

Anyway, while some were worrying about their understanding of obscure electronics, Karl did not lose time and certainly not an occasion to go fishing. Thanks to Fred’s rod and lure, we soon have the dinner in a bucket.

21 June – 07:30am, first night and 115nm since Bodø. The crew is adjusting with the offshore routine. We benefit from a calm sea to work on the generator and get it back into service. Meanwhile some seagulls came on board without paying their fare. They left their dues in nature all over the deck…

22 June – 03:00am, the wind is backing to WSW. We have to tack but it is full daylight so not too inconvenient to work on deck. 16:00, late lunch and courtesy of Rachel.

00:00 and 225nm. Not a bad day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23 June –