Greenland 2013 - Sailing Expedition - Over Green Islands

Leg: N 03

Cruise rout: Reykjavik - Narsarsuaq



Dates:
from 2013.06.11 to 2013.06.25
Duration:
14 days
NM:
900 (average 65 per day)
Skipper:
Janusz Garduła
Vacancies:
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Iceland - Greenland

Following Erik the Red (appr. 950-1003 AD)
 
The route of this leg is a reduplication of a fantastic achievement of Erik, the Viking chieftain of the 10th century.
Nickname "the Red" can come from both the red hair, as well as from his hot temper. In 982 AD is sentenced to three years of exile, and together with a group of faithful companions leaves Iceland. Erikstadir is the name of a place where Erik the Red was supposed to live, with the statue of his son Leif (the one from Finland) and the reconstruction of the longhouse (dugout).
Being in Iceland you need to visit the place of the first bishopric of Iceland from the eleventh century, Gullfoss.
The big attraction is the park Geysir, with some of the largest geysers in Europe.
The main attraction here is the geyser Strokkur, spitting boiling water for 15-20 meters every 8-10 minutes.
Shipping to the east coast of Greenland should take about 4 days. Our goal will be the entrance to the strait Ikerasassuaq (Prins Christian Sund), then a short stop in the village Augpilatoq/Aappilattoq. This strait is a narrow fjord, complex in shape, surrounded by mountains and full of drifting icebergs. Note! GPS sometimes can mislead here up to 300 meters so shipping is possible only in conditions of terrestrial navigation!
Sailing west, after leaving the fjord we are heading Nanortalik. It is quite a large settlement of Innu people, with full tourism and supply infrastructure.
With a little luck we will get to the fish market where you can replenish supplies.
Being in the south west of Greenland it is necessary to find Uunartoq and take a bath in the hot springs. A place full of contrasts: mountains ice + water + heat around flowering meadow. The only such place in the world.
After the rituals and purification of body and soul, we go to Qaqortoq, Hvalsey.
The place was a settlement founded by Erik the Red. Survived more than 10 centuries and today is a large (as for Greenland) fishing port.
It is worth visiting the ruins of the old Viking settlement.

 
A bit of History

Erik the Red after a 3-year stay on the banishment returns back to Iceland and tells the story of finding “Green Land”. 25 boat trip is organized by the Vikings. After heavy storms only 11 dakkars reach Greenland. The Vikings establish a settlement near the sea, Brattahlid. The colony around settlement is developing, growing to 5000 inhabitants spread over a large area along the fjord Eriksfjord and neighboring fjords. Viking Group fleeing the overcrowded Iceland in a few years built and developed this large resort on the west coast of Greenland. However, a group of newcomers who arrived on the island in 1002 brought with it an epidemic that ravaged the colony, causing the deaths of many of its leading citizens, including Erik the Red. The colony got rebuilt and survived until the 15th century (shortly before Christopher Columbus' first trip to America in 1492).
Pirate plunder, conflicts with Innu people - local residents of Greenland - led to the collapse of the colony.


On the way to Narsarsuaq (inhabited by about 160 inhabitants, who mostly work in the airport) we will visit above mentioned Brattahlid, then a lovely place called Igaliku (there are remnants of Viking settlements there) and sail to Narsaq (here you can stand a berth). There is a small museum in Narsaq where you can see reconstructed Viking costumes and kayaks.
Cruise end up in a place where you can spend few extra days. Numerous tourist attractions (fishing for trout and salmon, walking in the valley of flowers, kayaking trips and tours around the surrounding peaks) have attracted many Arctic explorers here.


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