Travelogue: northern lights 

Greenland Waters – September 3
Date and time: 03.09.25, 11:00 (GMT -2)
Location: LAT 59.14°, LON 35.37°
SOG (speed over ground): 12.1 knots
Wind: 32 knots

We are close to the southern tip of Greenland and are now making our way north, parallel to the west coast. The seas are growing rougher, and we are told to expect gale force 8 conditions later this evening, with winds of 45 knots or more straight on the bow. That means pitching up and down rather than rolling side to side. Nigel says the motion will feel like riding a horse: jerky, uneven, and not particularly graceful.

Last night brought a gift in the sky. Through breaks in the clouds, the northern lights shone faintly, rays of light streaming upward into the dark. It was brief but wonderful, and enough to lift the mood before heading into heavier seas.

The officers are busy preparing reports for Canadian authorities, all the paperwork required before entering Pond Inlet and securing permission to berth. As for me, if I fall quiet tomorrow, it will only mean the gale has unsettled my stomach. With luck, I will be back with another entry, steadier than the sea beneath us.