Explorers return from the Arctic Circle

ICY WATERS?The Killary Flyer approaches an iceberg in the Arctic.

Explorers return from the Arctic Circle


The Irish ‘North of Disko’ expedition, organised by Killary Adventure Company, has just returned from its ten-week voyage to the Arctic Circle and the west coast of Greenland.
Stunning images of ice and film footage from the adventure are currently being collated for exhibition and a feature length documentary. Photographer and former Westport resident Daragh Muldowney also captured some spectacular images of the disappearing ice and will be hosting an exhibition in the coming months.
The crew sailed from Galway on June 14 and battled some wild weather on their Atlantic crossing, before reaching their destination and exploring Greenland’s spectacular coastline, ice fjords and glaciers.
The crew sailed over 2,000nm to Upernavik in Greenland, well inside the Arctic Circle, from where a team of four kayakers set out on a 300km unsupported sea kayak south, navigating through fjords and ice fields, while the team of three climbers tackled a series of first ascents, as they followed the kayakers south, on board the 49ft, ex-Admiral’s Cup racing yacht ‘The Killary Flyer’.
The expedition was led by Jamie Young, MD of Killary Adventure Company, whose previous expeditions include the successful Irish Cape Horn Sea Kayak Expedition in 1989, the Guinea Bissau Sea Kayak Expedition in 1992, and the ‘South Aris’ expedition, which attempted to re-enact Shackleton’s epic boat trip from Elephant Island to South Georgia, in 1997. The crew recently sailed back into Killary Harbour and are now readjusting to life ashore. Images and blogs from their voyage can be viewed at www.northofdisko.com and on the Killary Adventure Expeditions Facebook page. Updates on Daragh Muldowney’s upcoming art photography expedition can be found at www.dulra.com.