ArcticTropic has landed in Hong Kong and apologizes for the interruption in the mid -Atlantic series. We will continue after the trip.
Arctictropic Blog
Archive for the 'Adventure Cruise' Category
Mid Atlantic Series to Continue After China Voyage
Monday, May 9th, 2011Madeira Islands
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
After sailing southeast to 33°7.8′N 17°16.65′W we reach another Portuguese outpost – Madeira. According to Wikipedia it t lies between 
32°22.3′N 16°16.5′W and 33°7.8′N 17°16.65′W, just under 400 km north ofTenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union.[4] The archipelago comprises one of the two Autonomous regions of Portugal (the other being the Azores located to the northwest), that includes the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, the Desertas and the Savage Islands.
Madeira was re-discovered by Portuguese sailors in the service of Infante D. Henrique (Henry the Navigator) in 1419, and settled after 1420. The archipelago is considered to be the first territorial discovery of the exploratory period of the Portuguese Age of Discovery.
While the islands have an adventurous potential, most visitors are sun-starved Northern Europeans visiting on cheap package tours who stick close to the town beaches and bars. This is good news for explorers however, almost everywhere else in this remote archipelago is empty.
In a sailboat one can visit the Ilhas Desertas .
Explore the incredible North Coast. The north side of Madeira is rainy, while the southern side is very dry. Below uninhabited Savage Island – on the way to the Canaries.
The Azores
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
After a rough sail southwards from Iceland, dodging icebergs along the way, we finally make landfall about 10 days after leaving Reykjavik Harbor. At 39’30’ North, 31’ 10” West we reach Corvo.
Corvo
Flores
Most of the islands were or are still volcanic. Many have hot springs. The Azores are one of the the highest mountain ranges in the world after Hawaii.
Faial
Pico
The mild mid North Atlantic is not known for snow – but Pico is snowcapped half the year.
São Jorge
Though in the high 30′s North Latitude ,São Jorge has an almost tropical feel.
Terceira
From here one can fly to Lisbon, and in the summer – to Boston.
Graciosa
São Miguel
Santa Maria
And now, we continue to the Portuguese islands of Madeira. An interesting note – almost all the islands of the Atlantic speak either Portuguese ,English or Spanish– or dialects thereof.
An Atlantic Journey
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
An ideal sailing trip to visit all the Atlantic Islands would take about 12 to 18 months, leaving Iceland in the late spring ,witha first stop in the Azores. By the beginning of the Antarctic summer, the boat would be in the far South Atlantic , visting Tristan da Cunha,South Georgia and the Malvinas ( known as the Falklands by the British), before turning back north to visit the Brazilian islands, on to Bermuda, St. Pierre and back to Iceland.
The Mid Atlantic Islands – Antarctica to Iceland
Thursday, April 7th, 2011ArcticTropic Blog is beginning a series on the Mid Atlantic Islands – stretching 10,000 miles along the volcanic Mid Atlantic Ridge. We will start with South Georgia, onwards to Tristan da Cunha and all the way up through St.Helena , the Azores and Iceland. Many of these islands are extremely difficult to reach – but the rewards are great for those who make the effort.
Across The Panama Canal
Sunday, January 9th, 2011
An ArcticTropic traveler, Morgan Hartman, is currently aboard a Silver Sea cruiseship enroute from Cartagena, Colombia to Acapulco,Mexico. Yesterday the ship traversed the Panama Canal, making the 52 mile trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific in about ten hours.
The canal saves thousands of miles in travel around South America. There is a one year waiting list to get though.
Morgan is aboard to promote some excellent wines from Vine Connections.
Antarctica Adventure
Friday, March 9th, 2007In January, ArcticTropic friends – Peter Linn,his son Peter Jr. and Chris Merola sailed aboard the Corinthian 2 from Ushuaia, Argentina. The weather was the warmest the guides had ever experienced in Antarctica, with temperatures well above freezing – making it possible to complete all 12 of the planned landings. Below – some incredible scenery.
Antarctic Voyage
Wednesday, March 7th, 2007Chris Merola and Peter Linn – friends of ArcticTropic Blog – took a voyage to Antarctica in January. In the next few days there will be more pictures.
