The attempt to sail the Northwest passage is a once in a lifetime experience. In 2019, when Tecla completed her transit for the first time, they were only the 311th ship ever to sail through the passage. This is the definition of a road less travelled!
Expect unbeatable Arctic scenery, tricky ice navigation, amazing wildlife spotting opportunities and a genuine sense of achievement.
Voyage
Vessel
Voyage Highlights
Sail the the legendary NW Passage
Sail to the last known position of Franklin’s ships Erebus and Terror at 74 degrees North
Be part of a close knit crew where all participate to sail the ship
The attempt to sail the Northwest passage is a once in a lifetime experience. Nome, your embarkation port, Nome, will be the last harbour of America, where officials will stamp Tecla out of the country. From there it will be over 1000 miles before entering Canada.
The route to take will depend fully on the ice reports. Possible stops include Talayoak, Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Resolute and Beechey Island, finishing your voyage at Pond Inlet, Canada.
In 2019 the voyage Roald Amundsen made, was open to the Tecla. Although it took Roald Amundsen 3 years, it took the Tecla 50 days. In 2023 a route through Bellot Strait was possible. In 2026 it will different yet again.
Setting Sail from Nome
Nome, at the tip of the Seward Peninsula and overlooking the Bering Sea, is a small outpost accessible only by air, sea and sled. It’s the most famous gold rush town in Alaska—home of the last great gold stampede in the history of the American West. You’ll be greeted by rugged Alaskan landscapes and a rich native culture.
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
Ice reports and weather reports will be closely monitored as the Tecla and her crew get closer and closer to the edge of the ice.
So many variables make it into a complex but amazing voyage. Standing in places so few people have visited before. Walking along shores named after the greatest seafaring explorers of recent centuries and seeing the cairns they left behind.
As part of the expedition crew you will be part of a watch when there are night sails. During the days at anchor, you will be able to go ashore and explore by foot. As you’re in polar bear country, you will have to stay with the guide at all times, for your own and others safety.
During the voyage you will be kept up to date on the ice situation with Ice Charts that are send to the ship. You will get several presentations on ice navigation, sailing the Tecla, the history of the Tecla, the different explorers of the North West Passage and much more.
Spend your free hours on deck spotting polar bears or find a snug corner to read a book downstairs. Central heating on board will keep you nice and warm, even if it cools down below zero outside.
Following in the Footsteps of Intrepid Explorers
Gijs, Tecla’s captain, has been enthralled by the North West Passage for years, and has now sailed it in both directions. He will be giving some presentations on board about all the different approaches to expeditions, land and sea travel and over wintering in this harsh environment. It is always interesting to debate the different styles and controversies around why Franklin failed and others like John Rae succeeded.
So many people, from Naval Officers in search of glory to Governments seeking a short cut to the Pacific, have played their part in discovering a navigable North West Passage. The coastline was explored and mapped by Vikings, Inuit, fur traders of Hudson Bay, the Russians, the Europeans. Much of the expedition frenzy years were after Franklin’s expedition went missing in 1848 with two ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror and 129 crew lost. 11 ships went looking for them, and Lady Franklin exerted huge pressure on the British Establishment to find them, and substantial financial prizes to find the NW Passage.
Orcadian explorer John Rae is one of your captain’s unsung heroes. A Doctor from Stromness on Orkney, he went to work for the Hudson Bay Fur Company and learnt many things about travelling in the Arctic from the Inuit. It enabled him to discover Franklin’s fate and the likely missing link of the NW Passage. Unlike Sir John Franklin he was never given the recognition he deserved…and you will have to read a recent biography on him to realise why he fell foul of Victorian politics.
In 1906 the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was the first to complete a passage from Greenland right through to Alaska in a 45 ton sloop (gaff cutter) called Gjøa. The vessel was a wooden herring drifter, which is fitting as Tecla is also an original Dutch herring drifter. Amundsen did take more than one season to get through.
Tecla will cross Baffin Bay, sail along the wilderness coast of Baffin Island and into Lancaster Sound. Beechey Sound is somewhat of a pilgrimage for those interested in the fate of the Franklin Expedition as this is the last place his ships Terror and Erebus were seen.
Much depends on the amount of ice that is met underway. This could mean you have to wait a day or two in a sheltered place before setting off once more.
Some places you may visit…
Resolute Bay
Weather and Ice permitting other anchorages can be visited. Resolute can be attempted if the ice conditions are not too severe.
These anchorages are well into Polar bear territory. This does mean that any landing is done under guidance and with a gun. You will stay in groups and are not permitted to wander too far from the group leader.
This voyages will be one with long sunsets and sunrises, as the sun will only disappear behind the horizon shortly when you set off from Ilulissat, Greenland. The most Northerly point of this voyage will be 74’45N!
Beechey Island, Erebus & Terror Bay
The anchorage at Beechey Island can be on the side of Erebus and Terror bay or on the side of Union Bay, both offering shelter from different directions. Depending on ice state and wind the anchorage will be chosen.
Landing on Beechey Island is done by dinghy, on shore the hike will take up half a day to visit all the sights on shore. One or two members of the crew will go ashore with you to show you all the best spots.
On board you will find many great books, but for this voyage the book Erebus, written by Micheal Palin, is a must read. One or two prints are on board for you to borrow as you make your way North.
What Wildlife Might I See?
In August the remaining sea ice offers good opportunities to see polar bears. As you get into September the polar bears are starting to roam the beaches looking for stranded whales or birds to hunt.
In August the seabird chicks are hatching and learning to fly. They are preyed on by Gyr falcon, skuas, gulls and arctic fox. Seals and walrus can be seen hauled out on the remaining ice but by September they have moved to the beaches and rocks or are at sea hunting. Migrating Beluga and Narwhals keep heading North from West Greenland to stick with the edge of the sea ice. The North West passage is probably the only place far enough North to see them at this time of year. There are also often huge pods of Beluga in the estuaries of Somerset Sound..
Arriving In Pond Inlet
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.
You’ll have a final evening aboard with your fellow crew members- time to raise a glass to an incredible expedition, before setting off home with a unbelievable sense of achievement.
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 this voyage, 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
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a coastal Bering Sea Community located on the north western coast of Alaska. Nome is about 540 miles from Anchorage, 160 miles from Russia and 102 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Nome is not located on the Alaska Highway system, and other than flying can only be reached via water or by snowmobile/dogsled trails.
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.
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.
