In 2019 and 2023 the Tecla crew successfully navigated through the ice and channels of the North West Passage; an incredible expedition. One of the most profound highlights was visiting Beechey Island, a site deeply tied to the history of Arctic exploration.
This unique voyage takes you from the Northern coast of Baffin Island, through Baffin Bay and the Lancaster Sound to Beechey Island, before sailing to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. A real Arctic adventure with ice navigation and a taste of the North West Passage.
Voyage
Vessel
Voyage Highlights
Pond Inlet: The “Gateway to the Northwest Passage,” this small Inuit community offers stunning views of glaciers, fjords, and sea ice
Baffin Bay Crossing: Marvel at towering icebergs and vast stretches of open water.
Lancaster Sound: Sail through drifting sea ice, keeping a sharp lookout for wildlife like seals and polar bears.
Beechey Island: Land by dinghy to explore this iconic historical site.
Be part of a close knit crew where all participate to sail the ship.
Arriving in Pond Inlet, known to the Inuit as Mittimatalik, is like stepping into a pristine Arctic wonderland. Located on the northern tip of Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada, this small, predominantly Inuit community is often referred to as the “Jewel of the North” due to its breathtaking natural beauty.
On stepping aboard Tecla, you’ll meet the professional crew and your fellow sailors and get settled into your bunk. After a safety briefing and introductions over dinner on board, enjoy your first night in harbour before preparing to set sail the following morning.
Along the Way
Setting off from Pond Inlet, Tecla will navigate through the breathtaking landscapes of Lancaster Sound, where drifting sea ice dominates the horizon. Keep an eye out for wildlife, including polar bears, seals, and Arctic seabirds, as you adapt to life onboard. Venture deeper into the Northwest passage with a possible stop on Devin Island, Arctic Bay, before setting a course for Beechey Island.
Beechey Island holds a poignant place in the annals of exploration. It was here that the ill-fated Franklin Expedition left behind one of its last marks on the world. During your visit, you will:
•Walk amidst the icy landscapes, surrounded by rugged wilderness.
•Touch the daymark set up by the Franklin Expedition.
•Explore the remnants of Northumberland House.
•Visit the gravesites of three Franklin crew members and one from a later rescue expedition.
This visit is a humbling reminder of the courage and determination of Arctic explorers as you stand in the farthest reaches of the North, surrounded by the vast expanse of ice and sea.
After leaving Beechey Island, the Tecla sails southward, tracing the icy waters of Lancaster Sound. Crossing Baffin Bay you will be surrounded by icebergs as big as houses or even castles! Settle into the rhythm of 24-hour sailing; watches, shared meals, and time for reflection or reading.
You’ll feel a dramatic shift from the remote Arctic wilderness to the vibrant energy of of a capital city as you arrive in Nuuk!
Arriving in Nuuk
In winter, the ice wins land and spreads out across the bay of Nuuk. Be prepared for it to be very cold (rarely getting above -20℃), with a mixture of rain and snow. If you can handle these harsh conditions it is fascinating to explore the city for a few days before making your onward travel plans. Nuuk houses a large part of the population of Greenland. Once founded by early settlers and called ‘Good Hope’, it was only after the second world war, when the Greenlandic National identity was reawakened that the city was renamed (Nuuk means Cape). The National Museum has a collection of Inuit mummies dating back to the 15th century. The Cultural Centre of Nuuk displays the work of a different Greenland artist each year, and is also well worth a visit.
AGILITY & FITNESS – NW Passage
Every customer sailing with us will need to fill in basic medical questions on their booking application. If you are not sure if your current level of fitness and agility are up to the NW Passage, then please ring the Classic Sailing Office on 01326 53 1234 and we can chat through your concerns and possibly find options that might suit you better.
For her North West Passage voyages, Tecla has firmer age and fitness restrictions than usual. Please be prepared to answer extensive questions and, if you are turned down for the voyage, know that this is for your own safety. We know it may be a disappointing for some of you. The Tecla team don’t make these decision lightly, but the voyage is going to be quite the adventure, lasting over a month in some of the most remote places on the planet, and there may be some pretty challenging landscapes and conditions to contend with. There may be times when you’re several days away from emergency medical help, so we want to ensure everyone is fit and healthy enough to handle any potential difficulties. Rest assured that Tecla has all the necessary safety and medical equipment onboard to comply with legal regulations. Unfortunately, having a medical support team associated with the voyage is just not financially feasible. So, while we would love to have everyone on board, safety is our top priority. There are of course a variety of voyages on our website with no upper age limits and less stringent fitness requirements!
Start & End Port
Pond Inlet, Canada
Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik in the local Inuktitut language) is a predominantly Inuit community of around 1500 people, located on northern Baffin Island. Known as the ‘Jewel of the North’, the community is surrounded by strikingly beautiful scenery, with mountains on all sides. At the ice flow edge there is an abundance of wildlife, including polar bears, caribou, wolves, Arctic foxes, ringed seal, and narwhals.
Nuuk, Greenland
Nuuk is the capital of Greenland and home to the majority of Greenlanders. It’s a fascinating place, and if you have time we’d highly recommend visits to the Nuuk Art Museum and the National Museum of Greenland. Also a great opportunity to sample some local cuisine like the dried fish, reindeer meat and crowberry desserts.
Kit List
Not all sailing areas require the same gear, the same foul weather equipment or even the same shorts. But some items you must always bring. In this kit list we hope to give you a small insight in what to bring, but of course, please consider this list might not encumber all that you would wish to take! Very important is that your bag or small suitcase needs to be stored in the room, under your bed, there is limited space – so bring a foldable bag! the following is Tecla's standard included/excluded and kit list. Below this you can find more specific info and kit lists dependant on sailing area.
What's Included (Standard)
Coffee and tea
Blanket, sheets, pillow and covers (for longer voyages there will be clean bed linen)
3-4 crew members guiding the group
1 towel
For longer voyages you can wash clothes once halfway through the voyage
What's not Included (Standard)
Soda and alcoholic drinks
Landing fees and Paid excursions ashore
Transfer to and from the vessel
Visa if needed
You can not wash clothes on board on shorter voyages
What should you always bring
Soap (preferably parabens and plastic free)
Tooth brush & Toothpaste
Comfortable clothing
Socks (at least until halfway through the voyage)
Underwear (at least until halfway through the voyage)
Binoculars (if you like bird watching, we have a pair on board, but it stays in the back close to the navigational area, it does not go on hikes)
Sunscreen
Photocamera (or you can ask other guests for their pictures)
Chargers for electrical equipment – there is 220v with central European plugs and a usb plug in the cabin
Day pack rug sack or small bag for hikes.
Water bottle for hikes
A good mood and an open mind
Passport
Visa if required
Valid Insurance papers
Personal Medicines
Seasickness pills if you need them
Ocean Crossing
When the ocean crossing is not part of the Southern Ocean sailing (so no South Georgia or Antarctica included) the crossings are usually in warm weather. Going from North to South, please be advised that the weather in the Falkland Islands is cool and wet! So also bring at least one set of warm clothing.
Waterproof jacket (can be sailing gear, but hiking gear, light weight jackets are very nice as well)
Waterproof pants
T shirts (at least 5)
Shorts (at least 2)
Long pants
Light / cool footwear with grip on deck (can be flipflops or sandles)
Waterproof boots / footwear
Swimming outfit
Sunhat
Merino wool thermal wear (can be light weight)
Water bottle (yes it said so in what always to bring, but during warm days, this is really a must!)
Greenland & Iceland
If there are any items you usually take on your hikes, and they are easy to take in your luggage, don’t forget to bring them!
Hiking waterproof pant
Hiking waterproof jacket
Wool sweater
A lightweight down jacket can be very nice
Warm head wear
Buff or neck scarf
Gloves against the cold, not necessarily for sailing
Long pants
T Shirt
Sweater
Merino Wool full under layer (at least 1 full set, depending on length voyage, 2 sets)
Falkland, South Georgia & Antarctica
On the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica there are different levels of Bio-Security we will have to comply with. To make it easy on yourself we recommend you bring one set of hiking gear that you would like to use on shore, that is completely cleaned at home. This means Velcro is cleaned and does not contain any seeds or pollen. Your pockets are empty of any seeds, pollen, sand etc. Your boots are cleaned, no sand or mud on them. This way, getting ready for the first landing becomes a walk in the park. For more information on Bio Security, please contact us.
These surroundings can be very cold, especially on longer watches. And also because these areas are protected, we ask you to take at least two sets of wet weather gear, with one of them at least completely clean. If you have sailing gear, perfect, but also bring some light weight, waterproof hiking gear. We recommend goretex pro of any brand. This is tough and durable. Often easy to clean and light weight.
For the cold
Merino wool 180/200gr thermal underwear (at least 3 sets)
Down jacket (if possible 800/900gr filling is the best)
Down jacket (700gr) or windstopper jacket
Woolen sweater
Warm head wear
Buff or neck scarf
Gloves against the cold, not necessarily for sailing (two pairs)
For the Rain
Waterproof footwear
Waterproof hiking footwear
Waterproof hiking jacket
Waterproof hiking pants
In the cold, making layers is important. If there is no rain, most 800gr down jackets with a merino wool layer underneath are warm enough. If it rains, most jackets do not fit over the down jacket. Therefore we recommend layer one merino wool, layer two a woollen sweater, layer three a thinner down jacket or wind stopper and layer four your water proof jacket.
Of course we understand that not everybody has these items in their closet. Please contact us if you are unsure what to pack.
North West Passage or Taste of the North West Passage
Summer in the Northern Territories of Canada can be cold, but they can be beautiful and warm as well. During the 2019 voyage we have had days of 2 degrees and days of 19 degrees. We had nights of 0 degrees, but also nights with a warm land breeze, where a woollen sweater and merino under layer were enough.
Hiking waterproof pants
Hiking waterproof jacket
Wool sweater
Warm head wear
Buff or neck scarf
Gloves against the cold, not necessarily for sailing
Long pants
T Shirt
Sweater
Merino Wool full under layer (at least 3 full sets)
Down jacket (if possible 800/900gr filling is the best)
This trip fulfilled my desire for adventure sailing as we transited the north coast of Iceland, along the Arctic Circle. Even though it was rough, the boat and crew performed admirably.
Bruce
An enjoyable week in less than ideal weather conditions. The crew were competent and friendly, the catering excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a voyage on Tecla.
Jonathan
A great mix of sailing in Scottish waters, some super hikes and an opportunity to see some of the immensely important historical sites in the Orkneys and Sheltands.
Mooring alongside in the Fair Isles was a great privilege.
The ocean passage to the Faroes was quiet but as a result we were blessed with clear skies whilst slinking in and out of the islands and some of the best coastal views one could hope to see anywhere.
The ocean passage to Iceland was a bit of a bimble until we were 60 miles off and then it got exciting. Thanks to a great skipper and permanent crew we snuggled into a fjord whilst the cruise ship ran aground in Reykjavik harbour. A good holiday, an adventure and fun.
K
Any initial doubts as to the number and experience of the crew were very quickly dispelled and we were impressed with the knowledge and the handling skills of the skipper and the 2 mates. Every opportunity was taken to enhance our enjoyment on both voyages and at every stage we were made to feel relaxed and under no obligation to crew the ship under sometimes testing (but enjoyable) conditions. As an observation, we must congratulate the skipper for her culinary skills under difficult conditions..........the food was perfect for the voyage.
Geoff
A delight. A competent and engaging professional crew, an interesting voyage with some challenges and some great rewards. Good companions to make the log spin around.
Mike
Brilliant. I would do it again tomorrow. And good value too. The food was excellent. I loved the spicy meatballs and my wife loved the fresh langoustines.
Steve
Most enjoyable classic sailing with great food, a true sense of teamwork, great guidance and a good sense of humour. Can't get any better.
Thomas
Vessel Gallery
Globe trotting Tall Ship Tecla in action and images. This historic gaff ketch is our Polar Specialist, with expeditions to Antarctica and through the Northwest Passage, but she also has fantastic voyages in sunnier climes. Photos from Classic Sailing customers, ships crew and professional photographers. We hope it gives a flavour of her sailing, life on board, the people that come, her beautiful sailing grounds and what it is like to live below decks.
