I have been impressed with the good humour quiet bearded men in woolly hats circa 1914… ‘Techniques can be taught, attitudes you are born with’, or something like that

25 -26 Sept UTC Anchored at lat 63.08 long50.68 anchored at Fiskanaesset, a fishing village of 230 inhabitants

We have had a good day (25th Sept) running south under engine and have completed around sixty NM and find ourselves in a superb anchorage surrounded by rock in about 15 meters of water. our anchor alarm and gps tracking overnight showed a stationary ‘wiggle’  of less that 10 meters, bear in mind i have around 50m of chain out, and at a rough calculation of 10kg per meter, means that I have a good 500 kg of chain below me, with a bloody great big hook on the end! we deployed a small stern anchor to prevent swing, which worked well. Crew and vessel are now getting used to each other and we are starting to relax, which is good.  I have been impressed with the good humour, the willingness to participate and the positive attitude, very British! (and remember I’m a Kiwi). I keep seeing the scene fade to sepia, and quiet bearded men in woolly hats and tweed and jackets encrusted with ice whiskers, pipes puffing…gently ribbing each other, circa 1914… ‘Techniques can be taught, attitudes you are born with’, or something like that. Today we will start a 24 hour run south, starting our watch system and our first long period at sea. From my perspective I have been happy with the settle in period, more that happy with the vessel and crew, and I’m looking forward to the challenges we will face in the Atlantic.

Mike Stewart, skipper Atlantic crossing; the final leg of the Polar Ocean Challenge