Over the summer an Officer Cadet from Universities of Glasgow & Strathclyde Air Squadron took on the opportunity of participating in Exercise Artic Express in Iceland.
The exercise involved two weeks of Adventurous Training with a view to improving sailing and navigation skills.
Once aboard the ‘Discoverer’, a Challenger 72 sailing yacht, the crew of 15 left from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, to sail north along the coast of the island. Throughout the journey, the crew members got to grips with sailing the yacht and its different on-board systems.
The journey took the ‘Discoverer’ crew from Reykjavík to Ísafjörður via the Artic Circle, then onto the village of Ólafsvík before heading back to Reykjavík. The crew was split into watches over the course of the journey, enabling them to work on their teamwork and communication skills.
The various highlights of Ex Arctic Express included: sailing through the Arctic Circle, rowing ashore to explore the island’s famous hot springs and taking in the incredible beauty of the natural landscapes.
Everyone in the crew had a great time on the trip and became a close knit team, working together to develop their sailing skills and techniques while refining their galley skills in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure at sea.
