Question: We’re preparing our boat for cruising in the North. Do you advise a dedicated stern-anchor system? Lots of Scandinavians sail around with one. Danforth, CQR or SPADE? Right now our main bower is a 60lb CQR on 100 meters of 12mm chain. Our spares are a 60lb CQR and a 30lb Danforth on board. We have a spare 150lb Fisherman at home.
John Harries
Tank Tender, Hart Systems
Our Tank Tender from Hart Systems is 20 years old and one of the few pieces of original equipment left on Morgan’s Cloud.
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Recommended Cruising Guides to Atlantic Canada
The best yacht cruising guides to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Q&A: Sailing The Strait Of Belle Isle In July
Question: We plan to go through the Strait of Belle Isle about July 1st. Is this practical given ice conditions? I have been told that a northeast wind can choke the Strait with ice at that time of year. I also have been told that ice is less likely on the Newfoundland side of the Strait.
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Q&A: Which Paper Charts For Iceland?
Question: The cruising guide for Iceland contains a list of Icelandic charts. Comparing that with the US chart catalog, the Icelandic coverage is much more extensive. Is it practical to expect to purchase charts in Reykjavik for the remainder of our Icelandic sailing? Are they in stock? Reasonable cost? Or would you recommend that I order all the coverage I need from the US catalog and add a few detail charts on arrival as I see fit?
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Q&A: Polar Bears, How Serious Is The Risk?
Question: How seriously do I need to take the threat of polar bears in the Arctic?
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Q&A: Circumnavigation Of Scandinavia Via The White Sea
Question: Do you know if it’s possible to circumnavigate Scandinavia via Holland, the Baltic Sea, St. Petersburg, the Belomorsk Canal, the White Sea, the Norwegian Coast, returning to Holland?
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Q&A: Literature And Sailing Singlehanded On The East Coast Of Greenland
Question: I am planning to take my boat from North Donegal to the east coast of Greenland. I was planning to make landfall in the area of Kap Dan. My boat is a 38 foot Rival (fiberglass) and I was planning the out bound trip single handed. Could you suggest any literature on the east coast?
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Q&A: Crew Changes On The West Coast Of Greenland
Question: What is your experience with changing crew in Greenland? Should we plan to go to the large airport at Kangerlussuaq (Sondre Stromfjord) to pick up new crew?
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Q&A: Which Paper Charts For Greenland?
Question: What charts do you recommend for cruising Greenland? We have C-Map charts but they have insufficient coverage.
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Q&A: Newfoundland To Iceland Direct
Question: Is heading from the Strait of Belle Isle towards a point about 200 miles south of Cape Farewell, then heading towards Reykjavik, a practical strategy given your experience with wind, weather and ice?
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Q&A: What Is The Middle Pack?
Question: I am planning a passage from Cartwright, Labrador to Disko Bay in Greenland leaving about July 1st. You wrote that I should watch out for the ‘Middle Pack’, please explain.
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Q&A: Newfoundland Via Greenland To The Azores
Question: We plan to sail from St. John’s, Newfoundland mid-June straight to Sisimiut, Greenland direct, if possible. From there spend July and August sailing slowly to Cape Farewell from where we plan to leave bound for the Azores. Any comments?
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Q&A: North Atlantic Circle Via Iceland
Question: Next May we are taking our new (old) boat on a shakedown to Bermuda and back (our home port is Deltaville, VA, on the southern Chesapeake Bay). After that, we’ve been imagining a summer voyage in the Atlantic, maybe Azores-Ireland-Iceland-Canada-Chesapeake. My question is, is there a good route strategy for this trip?
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Q&A: Time Signals for Sextant
Question: Do you still do sights with a sextant? If so, where do you get the time signal from when underway? I found several shortwave frequencies for time signals on the web but the reception is extremely poor. In fact, I can’t get any useful exact time at all with my SSB receiver (Lowe HF-150 from the UK, built 1995), which otherwise works properly. I am sailing in the Med and I am a beginner with the sextant. Maybe you have some proven frequencies you could share with me?
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