From Qaqortoq to Battle Harbour
Departure from Qaqortoq (August 12, 2024)
After a brief stay in Greenland, it was time to set sail again. We were slightly behind schedule, but with a favorable weather window, the decision to leave was made quickly. The next leg of our journey was 630 nautical miles, marking the final long stretch of our trip. In Qaqortoq, we refueled with diesel, topped up our water tanks, and set off again within two hours.
The Last Icebergs
As the day ended, visibility was good, allowing us to see and navigate around the drifting ice. The smaller pieces were particularly challenging to spot, as they often resembled breaking waves. Just before nightfall, we spotted two large icebergs. Fortunately, our FLIR night vision camera allowed us to monitor them during the night. Thankfully, we didn’t encounter any more ice. Since we were still in Greenlandic waters, we continued sending a report to SAR (Search and Rescue) every six hours, just as we had done on the way in.
Winds picking up (August 12, 2024)
At 3 a.m., an AIS signal suddenly appeared a tanker was passing in front of us. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared. It was a very dark night, and after the tanker, not much else happened. Due to the weather, we initially steered a more westerly course. By the afternoon, the wind had picked up, and the waves grew higher, hitting us from an bow angle and causing significant pitching. This made for an uncomfortable ride, so we altered our course to take the waves from the side. By the end of the evening, conditions had improved, and the night was calm.
Northern Lights (August 13, 2024)
It was a reasonably clear night when suddenly, a faint streak appeared in the sky. I stepped outside for a better view, and it became crystal clear it was the Northern Lights. Although it didn’t last long, it was breathtaking.
A Routine Day at Sea
We settled into a rhythm during the crossing, and our watch shifts went smoothly. The weather also improved, making for a more comfortable journey. Towards the end of the day, we spotted a fishing vessel. Around midnight, we approached the Canadian coast, seeing several lighthouses. Land ahoy!
Arrival at Battle Harbour (August 14, 2024)
We arrived early in the morning at Battle Harbour, an old cod fishing village in Labrador Canada. We had successfully completed our transatlantic crossing, sometimes referred to as the Viking route. Are we true Vikings now? Definitely not. The Gecko made this journey remarkably pleasant, and thanks to her, we reached the other side safely.
For those interested in following our journey, you can track us via Marine Traffic using our MMSI number: 232044857.
