An ordinary boat can enable extraordinary things. Skier and sailor Juho Karhu has spent two winters in the Arctic Circle on board his Beneteau Idylle. David Pugh reportsArctic Circle ice can form overnight… drone shot of Juho Karhu\u2019s 37ft SylviaPicture this: clad in a hat, down jacket and carpet slippers, a sailor sits cross-legged on the bow of his anchored yacht. In the background, across limpid, wintry water, a low tundra rises, rolling towards the snow-shrouded hills beyond.
\nThe sailor is Juho Karhu, and the boat a 1986 Beneteau Idylle 11.50 named Sylvia. For the past year and a half, they have been cruising the waters north of the Arctic Circle, at times accompanied by friends. Juho, 33, grew up in eastern Finland and is a keen skier who honed his skills while living and studying in Austria and in previous visits to the Arctic.
\n\u201cWhile skiing on the coastal mountains I always kept looking at the islands further out in the sea,\u201d said Juho. \u201cI could see there was good skiing, but it was inaccessible without a boat.\u201d Sylvia is his golden ticket to sail, kitesurf and ski in some of the most remote spots on the planet.
\nJuho started sailing aged 23, from Finland\u2019s coastal capital, Helsinki. \u201cWhen I picked up sailing I really got into it and started racing immediately,\u201d he explained. \u201cI spent a season in Sydney sailing a Laser dinghy. I crewed on different kinds of boats, and we also had an active match racing team, which I skippered for two seasons. Although we did train a lot, it was never really that serious.\u201d
\nBut it was the purchase of Sylvia in 2017 which ultimately led to Juho spending two Arctic winters on board a largely unmodified production cruising boat. \u201cAlthough I did plan to move into it, I didn\u2019t originally plan to sail to the Arctic when I bought it.
\n\u201cBut when the idea of Northern Norway and Svalbard came to me, it also quickly became obvious that it would be easiest just to use the boat that I already own. Of course, budget restrictions were a part of this too,\u201d he explained.
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Equipped for the cold
\nJuho moved on board in the spring of 2018 after a punishing few months refitting Sylvia for Arctic sailing. Alongside carrying out maintenance or repairs to the sails, rigging, engine and other systems, he fitted a Refleks diesel stove to warm the cabin in the cold weather, which provides a central dry heat in addition to an extra hotplate for cooking.
\n\u201cDryness is more important than heat,\u201d explains Juho. \u201cIf your boat is dry and you have dry clothes then you\u2019ll be comfortable. I always wear a layering system with merino underwear and Helly Hansen offshore series outerwear.\u201d
\nThe stove supplements the original forced-air diesel heater, and Juho reckons that the heating efficiency is roughly the same. A clever addition to note is the addition of a pair of fans to recirculate the heat from the stove, self-powered via a Peltier element from the temperature differential between the flue and the fans\u2019 heatsinks.
\nAnchored in one of the fjords of S\u00f8r\u00f8ya, northern Norway. With appropriate heating the Beneteau Idylle makes a capable Arctic Circle cruiser
\nAware that warming an uninsulated boat is less than ideal for the environment and also a significant expense to a low-budget sailor, Juho keeps the heat to a minimum at night, allowing the temperature to fall as low as 5\u00b0C. Outside, night-time temperatures in winter can drop to -15\u00b0C on the coast, with inland temperatures down to -30\u00b0C.
\nHe also makes good use of electric fan heaters when shore power is available. \u201cIt\u2019s slightly more expensive than diesel,\u201d he said, \u201cbut more sustainable.\u201d Beyond heating, Juho has also fitted a careful selection of essential electronics to help him communicate and navigate in the sometimes-hostile waters.
\n\u201cI chose Raymarine, primarily because they\u2019re known for quality equipment that you can trust,\u201d he said. \u201cFor me, durability is top priority. The stuff needs to be as maintenance-free as possible. In the north I don\u2019t have an easy access to maintenance facilities, spares etc.\u201d On board, Sylvia now boasts an EV-200 linear autopilot pack, a RAY70 VHF with AIS receiver, Raymarine\u2019s Quantum radar and an Axiom 9in multifunction display.
\nJuho Karhu, coming back from whale watching, at at Sylvia\u2019s helm. Photo: Jakko Posti
\n\u201cI did all the installation work myself, in fact I did all the wiring after already having left Helsinki, while we were anchored in the outer archipelago in Finland,\u201d explained Juho. \u201cAll are connected to the Axiom screen, which is mounted on a 360\u00b0 rotating base in the cockpit.
\n\u201cThis allows me to see all the necessary information and also control the autopilot while sailing from one central point. The EV-200 autopilot pack with the linear drive is essential for me. When sailing solo the autopilot is always steering \u2013 except when going in and out of harbour.\u201d
\nWhy sail in the Arctic?
\nThe Arctic is no friend to pre-planned cruising \u2013 booking a week\u2019s holiday months in advance is never going to pay off in this area. \u201cIn winter,\u201d says Juho, \u201cthe weather is awful, to be honest, with low pressure systems coming from seemingly every direction. Then I only sail shorter distances, 20-40 miles per day, and I always try to wait for good weather to do so.
\nIn weather like this on the north coast of Norway Karhu sensibly prefers to keep Sylvia in port. This was May 2019 after 40cm of snow overnight
\n\u201cYou need time,\u201d he continues. \u201cWhen the storms roll in, it\u2019s best to hunker down in a small fishing harbour or protected anchorage. If you go out when it\u2019s freezing and windy the seawater spray will freeze on the deck immediately, making for a nice skating rink, so I try to avoid that as much as possible. Luckily, as I live on board, I can choose when to sail.\u201d
\nIn summer, however, although it\u2019s not really warm \u2013 last summer only saw a couple of days when the temperature topped 12\u00b0C \u2013 the winds are easier and more predictable, making for some quite good sailing conditions. For Juho, the skiing is a powerful draw, as is the solitude, scenery and general ambience.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s just more wild here,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt\u2019s something that you can\u2019t get in the Caribbean. I\u2019ve worked two seasons there and also spent half a year in Australia, and they feel a lot tamer by comparison.\u201d
\nJuho\u2019s Axiom MFD display is mounted on a 360\u00b0 rotating base
\nNot everyone would like Arctic sailing, but in Juho\u2019s opinion some of the advantages of the area are overlooked. Where he is constantly asked about the cold by interviewers and followers on social media, people rarely ask tropical sailors about sweating and how hot it gets. \u201cFor me personally the tropics are just too hot, too uncomfortable,\u201d says Juho. \u201cSo in many ways I find the Arctic more comfortable than the warmer places.
\n\u201cIf you\u2019re thinking of sailing here, go for it. Norway itself is coastal sailing with a lot of protected harbours \u2013 there\u2019s a good place to tuck in every 20-30 miles. If the weather is bad then you just wait. Your biggest resource should be time \u2013 you need plenty of that. And if you stay on for the winter, the \u2018whale season\u2019, when they come to the northern fjords to feed on herring, it is amazing.\u201d
\nNavigating the frozen North
\nJuho sails half the time alone, and the remainder with his girlfriend, Sohvi, or other crew \u2013 who have shown a marked preference for visiting in the summer. Keeping the onboard systems simple makes single- and short-handed sailing easier, and ensures Juho has the best navigation information available.
\nSohvi Kangasluoma takes a moment to read on Sylvia\u2019s bow
\n\u201cSailing to Svalbard we had to carefully study the ice maps, especially because we crossed the Barents Sea in May: the normal cruising season begins in July. We sailed through the ice a few times, but only in calm conditions.
\n\u201cThe Quantum radar can detect the bigger bits of ice and this is certainly useful, especially because the southern tip of Svalbard is often covered in fog. We experienced this, sailing for two days in very thick fog. Despite the radar it was awful,\u201d he remembered. \u201cUp here in the north it\u2019s not just the fog that can make your life difficult, but also the darkness and snow flurries,\u201d he continued. \u201cThey can very quickly reduce visibility down to less than 100m.\u201d
\nFor passage planning, and as backup to the Navionics charts on the Raymarine system, Juho uses the SeaPilot app on his mobile phone and tablet. \u201cUp here, where things are sometimes badly charted, I use them in combination with the other charts on the Axiom plotter and on my computer,\u201d he explained.
\nBillefjorden, Svalbard. \u201cThe sea ice released with the north wind and we had to make our way through it,\u201d Juho explains. Photo: Kuutti Haapanen
\n\u201cI like to have two different sources of map data, because inevitably all charts will have some kind of mistakes, so if I\u2019m going somewhere sketchy \u2013 a new, badly charted anchorage, for example \u2013 then I like to check both SeaPilot and Navionics, plus satellite pictures if they are available.\u201d
\nChoosing a boat
\nSailing in extreme latitudes \u2013 especially during the winter months \u2013 will always pose challenges, but Juho remains upbeat. \u201cA normal uninsulated fibreglass boat will handle the conditions in northern Norway perfectly well; the only problem can lie with the crew, but so far I\u2019ve done just fine,\u201d he explains.
\n\u201cThings like a snow shovel, and a rubber hammer to knock away the accumulated ice on the deck, do come in handy \u2013 during the winter I think I use them more than the winch handles. I\u2019ve had some other small issues with the boat as well, like the mainsail track filling with ice and the toilet hoses freezing.
\nSmall bits of ice like this don\u2019t harm glassfibre boats, but make for nice drone shots
\n\u201cThe worst problem I\u2019ve experienced so far was that last winter my roller furling headsail refused to work. The lower unit was shot, allowing water to enter the bearings, where it would freeze when the temperature got below zero. This was potentially dangerous, because sometimes the unit would freeze while sailing, which would mean a lot of trouble if the sail was only half-furled, in which case I couldn\u2019t furl the sail in, or lower it either.
\n\u201cI had to replace the whole lower drum. Not really such a huge undertaking, but in -10\u00b0C, in total darkness during the polar night in December it was not a fun job, and perhaps one of the few moments when I thought: \u2018What the hell am I doing here?\u2019\u201d
\nNow a confirmed Arctic liveaboard, Juho has plans to change Sylvia for a more conventional expedition yacht for these latitudes. He said: \u201cNext summer I want to transit the White Sea-Baltic canal through Russia, then spend the winter sailing the Baltic Sea.
\nA typical day\u2019s ski equipment: Skis and poles, hired rifle, ice pick, crampons, snow sampling equipment, camera, flare pistol, red handheld flares, skins for skis, smartphone,\u00a0GPS and satphone
\nIn some ways, this will be more challenging than winter sailing in northern Norway, because large parts of the Baltic tend to freeze during the winter. I might try overwintering in the ice somewhere in the outer archipelago.
\n\u201cThe whole winter in the Baltic will be preparation for the future trips,\u201d he continued. \u201cI have my sights set on ideas like overwintering in Greenland, then transiting the North West Passage to Alaska. Overwintering in the ice is not possible in a fibreglass boat, so I\u2019m actively looking for a 40-45ft steel or aluminium expedition-style boat that fits my budget.\u201d
\nLife beyond sailing
\nJuho is a translator by trade, and, supported by good 4G mobile coverage in north Norway, he is able to work on board his boat. In addition, in between sailing, skiing and shovelling snow, Juho maintains a blog and several social media channels, and has actively assisted several scientific research projects.
\nJuho suited up to avoid contaminating snow samples while collecting them for Sval-POPs project pollution testing. Photo: Kuutti Haapanen
\n\u201cThe Arctic environment is incredibly fragile,\u201d he points out. \u201cIt\u2019s not just climate change that affects this area, but also other human impacts, like extractive industries and tourism \u2013 such as us. Sohvi is writing her PhD on the impacts of oil and gas industry to human security here in the north.\u201d
\nWhile in Svalbard, Juho collected snow samples for the Sval-POPs project, which is jointly run by Gdansk Technical University and the Italian Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes.
\nThe research uses snow chemistry to conduct spatial comparison of the distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs); man-made compounds that travel to the Arctic in various ways, particularly from long-range transport, and are already causing significant damage. Juho\u2019s travels by sea and snow have provided the opportunity to collect samples from locations normally inaccessible to the science team.
\nIn the spring of 2019 he also sailed and hiked to some glaciers that are only accessible by boat to take drone photographs of glacier tongues for the Glacier Atlas, compiled by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate. The atlas is used by scientists to study the effects of climate change on the glaciers, and by other Norwegian authorities to inform hydropower projects and other infrastructure affected by glacier melt.
\n\u201cI strongly believe we should trust the scientists, that\u2019s why I think it\u2019s important to support the scientific research that relates to nature,\u201d he said. \u201cSome of the glaciers that I photographed are a lot smaller than they are depicted on the maps, both in Norway and Svalbard.
\n\u201cI\u2019d like to use my boat more as a platform for scientific research, and that\u2019s a definite consideration in choosing my new boat,\u201d he concluded. \u201cI\u2019m also looking for a Baltic-related project to support next winter.\u201d
\nThe Arctic is still a mostly pristine environment. The ice sheet the size of a football field on the right floated away and got stuck on Sylvia\u2019s shorelines
\nTips for northern sailing
\nFishing is king in north Norway. There are few amenities specifically for leisure sailors, but basic facilities exist for small fishing boats, and mechanical services are easily found. Sailing equipment can only be found in the cities.
\nSmall harbours can be found every 20-30 miles. The smaller ones are not suitable for big yachts, but boats under 45ft and 2.5m draught should not have any trouble. Diesel and water are available in almost all harbours, although water may need to be carried in cans during the winter. Boats can overwinter in larger harbours, such as Troms\u00f8, Alta, Hammerfest and Honningsv\u00e5g.
\nAnchorages should be chosen carefully. Not many are suitable for all weather conditions: watch out for extreme depths and katabatic winds near steep mountain faces. Carry at least 100m of rode\/chain, and a heavy anchor. The Gulf Stream keeps most of the coast ice-free through the whole winter, but sheltered waters may freeze. Watch out for a gel-like consistency in the water just before it freezes. A breeze will tend to clear the ice.
\nRifle is for protection against polar bears \u2013 primarily to scare them off. Photo: Kuutti Haapanen
\nVisiting Svalbard
\nHigh season for visiting yachts starts at the end of June and continues to the end of August.\u00a0Although the west coast remains free of ice for most of the year, sea ice can come around the southern end of the island and block the fjords at any time. Drifting glacier and sea ice form the biggest risk to visiting yachts.
\nProtection from polar bears should not be taken lightly. Signal pistols and rifles can be rented on Svalbard \u2013 just don\u2019t be surprised if they are marked with swastikas, as the Nazis left plenty behind and they\u2019re still in use.
\nCheck out what paperwork you will need beforehand. The governor of Svalbard enforces various requirements on boats and their crew, including mandatory search and rescue insurance. You\u2019ll also need a ration card if you wish to buy alcohol.
\nYou can see more of Juho\u2019s adventures at:
\nSval-POPs
\nGlacier Atlas
\nRaymarine blog
\nAlluringArctic.com
\nFacebook.com\/AlluringArctic
\nYouTube.com\/AlluringArctic
\nInstagram.com\/AlluringArctic
\nFirst published in the May 2020 edition of Yachting World.
\nThe post Sailing Norway: Lessons learned from two winters at 66 \u00b0N in a 37ft boat appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An ordinary boat can enable extraordinary things. Skier and sailor Juho Karhu has spent two winters in the Arctic Circle on board his Beneteau Idylle. David Pugh reportsArctic Circle ice can form overnight… drone shot of Juho Karhu\u2019s 37ft SylviaPicture … <\/p>\n