From trimaran Prince de Bretagne, Christophe sent his greetings.

Posted Dec 2009 02 at 22:02 [en - fr]

Tue, 01 Dec 2009, Une petite sœur pour Léonie

Vagabond's crew is getting bigger: Aurore is born Saturday in Brest!

Posted Dec 2009 01 at 00:01 [en - fr]

Mon, 23 Nov 2009, Prix et article

A new prize for the film Born under the northern stars: the prize Look of schoolboys won at La Rochelle Adventure Film Festival!

In December issue of Voiles et Voiliers magazine, Amélie and Hervé are telling about their stay in Spitsbergen when they replaced us on board Vagabond during the 3 first months of the wintering 2008-2009.

Posted Nov 2009 23 at 19:05 [en - fr]

Tue, 17 Nov 2009, Déclaration Damocles

During the symposium organised by Damocles in Brussels from 10th to 12th November 2009, scientists have worked out a declaration summarizing the key findings from the project, as well as future projections and scenarios.

Posted Nov 2009 17 at 20:01 [en - fr]

Mon, 16 Nov 2009, Petit tour à l'anse Vagabond

It has been few months that weather data were not received by scientists from Damocles. Inglefield Bay's station, at Vagabond's former wintering location, is though working properly. The only problem is that data is not sent in real time any more. This is what could be checked by Sébastien Barrault, during a short visit on Friday 13th November. The helicopter's pilots were hoping for a coffe on board Vagabond... but the site, plunged in polar night, was only occupied by pack ice, icebergs and polar bears tracks.

Posted Nov 2009 16 at 18:44 [en - fr]

Tue, 27 Oct 2009, Jin, Frost et Imiaq

Since beginning of July, Jin, Frost and Imiaq are living in Ny-Alesund. Our 3 Greenlandic dogs, best friends of Vagabond during the 5 years mission in Spitsbergen, are still supporting polar science!

Posted Oct 2009 27 at 19:19 [en - fr]

Tue, 13 Oct 2009, Lanton, Hanvec

Last night, we were just back home in Brittany when Banquise gave birth to Eskimo! Banquise (Pack ice) is the name of one of our neighbour's charolais cow. Amazing coincidence.

It is now time for evaluation. First about Le Manguier's journey, from Corsica to Alaska, through the North-East passage: an exciting trip, but not as ecological as planned, analysis to come. Then about the 5 winterings of Vagabond in Spitsbergen: here is a first report, before the final one.

Few festivals and other events will also allow us to share our last adventures. More details here soon.

A the end of the winter, Vagabond will be convoyed from Liland, in Norway, to Brittany, where she will be prepared to sail to the Arctic again in 2011. Meanwhile, from April to September 2010, Vagabond's crew will set up on board Ecotroll, heading for Greenland!

Posted Oct 2009 13 at 23:54 [en - fr]

Fri, 02 Oct 2009, Transit moscovite

On 21st September, Le Manguier crossed Bering Strait, few days after the yachts RXII and Explorer of Sweden. This second North-East passage, France and I experienced it with our little family, with an unusual crew, on board an amazing boat! 3 days later, in Provideniya, a little team "artist-cameraman-photographer-pilot" disembarked, with 150 kg of equipment, including few kilos of precious pictures. Other projects and already late season pushed us reasonably to come back to Europe by air ways. After 8 days exciting and full of developments in Chukotka (another story...), France, Léonie, Tristan and I left Anadyr today, while snowing. Few hours later, our plane was flying above Tiksi, covered with white as well. Then, it was passing close to Begichev Island, then south of White Island, then Vaigach Island... What an impression to do again, so quickly, in the opposite direction, most part of our journey! We are now on transit in Moscow, the opportunity to meet some of our friends. Far from here, in Aleut Islands (not in Japan anymore), Le Manguier should be getting ready for the winter, while the rest of the crew is at least having some rest.

Posted Oct 2009 02 at 21:40 [en - fr]

Thu, 27 Aug 2009, Affluence

More than 12 boats are now sailing the Arctic sea routes, connecting Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

NORTH-EAST PASSAGE (Northern Sea Route):

>From West to East:

- RX11 (Norwegian yacht)

- Explorer of Sweden

- Le Manguier

- Eshamy (English yacht)

None from East to West.

NORTH-WEST PASSAGE:

>From West to East:

- Baloum Gwen

- Arctic Mariner

- Ocean Watch

- a 10 meters cutter

>From East to West:

- Fleur Australe

- Glory of the Sea

- Artic Explorer

- a trawler

- a cargo

Posted Aug 2009 27 at 19:48 [en - fr]

Thu, 20 Aug 2009, Ice Pilot !

While Vagabond is resting at anchor, not far from Lofoten Islands, our trip to Bering Srait is going on. After many inspections of Le Manguier and all our documents, authorities from Moscow and Murmansk gave permission for the ship to sail through the Northern Sea Route. I've also been accepted as Ice Pilot on board! No ice for now, and we are already entering Kara Sea.

Blog and position
of Le Manguier.

Posted Aug 2009 20 at 21:16 [en - fr]

Wed, 12 Aug 2009, Mourmansk

Le Manguier finally arrived in Murmansk on 10th August, with needed help from the Murmansk Maritime Agency. France and me are re-discovering the city, ... I met again our partner from 7 years ago, SMNG, the director gave me a warm and efficient welcoming to work on the last administrative steps, hoping to get permission to sail further east.

Blog and position of Le Manguier...

Posted Aug 2009 12 at 16:45 [en - fr]

Sun, 02 Aug 2009, PNE, 2ème

France, Léonie and me are in Kirkenes, on board Le Manguier, with our seven team mates. Tomorrow, we will enter Russia, for a first administrative stop in Murmansk, essential before sailing through the North East passage...

To follow us:

- website from the expedition

- blog

- position of Le Manguier

To join us, it is still the same satellite phone number (Iridium), see contacts.

Posted Aug 2009 02 at 23:50 [en - fr]

Mon, 27 Jul 2009, Changement de bord !

After 3 days stop in Tromsø, next to Le Manguier, Vagabond sailed to her mooring location at Liland, 200 km further south. This is where our yacht will wait patiently, while we are going north again on board Le Manguier. The 10 crew members are now all together on board the former tug boat, heading for Bering Strait! Our final destination is Japan, via the North-East passage, the same route we took in 2002 with Vagabond. You can follow this journey on the blog and the website of Le Manguier.

The fifth and last wintering of Vagabond is to relive every week on Sailing News, in 13 episodes.

Posted Jul 2009 27 at 10:36 [en - fr]

Wed, 22 Jul 2009, Le fils de Robert

Very good sailor, Robert's son helped us to accomplish the second half of this navigation, from Bear Island to Tromsø, north of Norway. Really good weather and sea conditions, wind from 10 to 35 knots, waves not too huge, the two Yanmar engines in prime shape thanks to the washing up done during last stop.

Despite a couple of failures, Robert's son did his job the nicest way, allowing us to sail up to Le Manguier, boat that will host Vagabond's regular crew for one more arctic navigation up to Japan.

All the crew is now resting, and is in good shape, while young sailors are preparing themselves to go back to their regular activities, some invisible but heavy changes having been done on the numeric web tightening Vagabond to the rest of the world. (Soifran)

Posted Jul 2009 22 at 08:00 [en - fr]

Sun, 19 Jul 2009, Où est l'Ours ?

Don't believe travel agencies. It's too common to see lost tourist in search of bears, which gave its name to the island located between Spitsbergen and north of Norway. No bear, but thousands of birds organised into colonies ; Atlantic puffins, northern fulmars, common guillemots and black-legged kittiwakes make that island a better destination for ornithologists than for bears lovers. (Soifran)

Posted Jul 2009 19 at 21:50 [en - fr]

Sun, 19 Jul 2009, Ciao Inglefield

17th July. After the decision was taken, all went faster. Chain cleaned as new, life-saving ropes installed, dishes and personal belongings stored, sails ready, motors verified. It was not an easy decision to take; you let a piece of yourself when you leave a place where you have been leaving for five years. Cutting the ropes that attach you to the bay moves you. We are now sailing to Tromsø, where Vagabond will spend the summer. (Soifran)

Posted Jul 2009 19 at 11:21 [en - fr]

Fri, 17 Jul 2009, Boutes

Better wait than hurry, that's what we hope. Two hundred meters of rope into the ice, and eighty meters of chain, to be washed piece by piece, are the last links tying us to the little Inglefield bay, where Vagabond is finishing his fifth and last wintering. Emotion was celebrated on the beach with fireworks. Later young sailors were learning knots on board. Will we be leaving tomorrow? (Soifran)

Posted Jul 2009 17 at 10:47 [en - fr]

Thu, 16 Jul 2009, Erratum et bête curieuse

Our careful and informed readers didn't miss the mistake that took place in our last post, the crew passing from 148 to 149, and not from 177 to 178. Meanwhile work is going on, the dinghy passes by the glacier, and one member of the crew had a bath, taking benefit of the ambient warmth, unless it was the opposite. A strange animal has been seen on the weather mast, anyone having information about this strange specie is welcomed to share it. (Soifran)

Posted Jul 2009 16 at 11:28 [en - fr]

Wed, 15 Jul 2009, Bientôt la quille

Though the icefield is almost broken enough to let us sail, we are still forced to stay, a couple of things to set up on board before the departure, and also and mostly two ropes tightly caught in the ice. Today's main task was to carry some black sand to help the ice melting along the ropes. Meanwhile, in the midnight sun, the captain still has the same age, but the one of the crew passes from 177 to 178. Vagabond is not heavier. Please just let us sail. (Soifran)

Posted Jul 2009 15 at 10:43 [en - fr]

Tue, 14 Jul 2009, De la visite

The icefield surrounding us is still melting down, and we spent part of the day loosing the ropes that tight the boat to the coast, freeing them from the ice when it was possible. Meanwhile an intense activity was occuring around us; a young polar bear caught a seal, but an older male took him his prey. A third one joined them, offering us the strongest's law ballet. Later, after having watched a couple of pictures, a bear -one of the three fore mentioned?- visited us, having a rest on the ice, close to the boat. He gave in to curiosity and came at less than 3 meters from us! Even so, we had to through a banger to dissuade him from settling down for the night along the hull. Just when Eric and France were telling us that the bears were pretty shy this year. (Soifran et Eric)

Posted Jul 2009 14 at 12:11 [en - fr]

Mon, 13 Jul 2009, Mille milliards d'amis

The icefield shrinks every day. More and more animals are visible, and we are at a very nice observation place to watch the different species inhabiting in Svalbard at this season. Eiders, black guillemots, arctic sterns, ivory gulls, polar bears, narwhals, ringed seals and white whales showed their nose (or back) during this day, letting us thinking about the importance of biodiversity. (Soifran)

Posted Jul 2009 13 at 11:34 [en - fr]

Sun, 12 Jul 2009, La vie au grand air

Those days the small team has intense outdoor activities. Making some huge barbecues with the former dog's huts, pack an enormous tent weighting more than three hundred kilos, hike around to enjoy the view and check the ice state are some of the activities of the Inglefield summer camp. One leitmotiv: let the zone as clean as possible. (Soifran)

Posted Jul 2009 12 at 12:22 [en - fr]

Sat, 11 Jul 2009, Frères et ours

Arrived 72 hours ago, accompanying France and Léonie to their summer estate, Paul-Mathieu and François, a.k.a Piem and Soifran, are enjoying the time before the ice breaking-up, spending some time with their brother Eric and his family. The landscape is gorgeous and the weather sweet, helping activities around the boat, such as unmounting scientific hardware, fill water tanks or just hiking around the boat. Polar bears, numerous at this time of the year, are staying reasonably far away, more interested in seals than in activities occuring around the boat. Léonie is very helpful to fill the water tanks. (Soifran)

Posted Jul 2009 11 at 11:55 [en - fr]

Mon, 06 Jul 2009, Cohabitation

Once in a while, a polar bear is getting closer to Vagabond, but none of them has been too curious so far. Dogs don't need to bark long, and I am using neither banger nor flare. The animal that passed near the radiometers was even careful enough not to step right under the sensors, measurements were not disturbed! I've been alone for one month, and I'm glad to welcome France and Léonie tomorrow, as well as my brothers Piem and François. Extra people to pack camp and to take to the sea again! But the helicopter will take away our dogs, Jin, Frost and Imiaq, towards their new home, and the camp will suddenly appear much empty without our companions, faithful for 5 years.

Posted Jul 2009 06 at 12:04 [en - fr]

Mon, 29 Jun 2009, Fonte

In Inglefield bay, pack ice started to break up on 25th June, 8 days earlier than last year. Vagabond is only at 1 km from open water! On the few square kilometres of sea ice left, dozens of seals have been sunbathing all week-end long. Yesterday evening, I was watching a big polar bear eating one of them, while another bear was still hunting a little further. My field for work and trips is reducing fast, and thaw is offering a moraine more and more muddy, as shown on pictures taken from the roof of the cabin at 8pm every day.

Posted Jun 2009 29 at 16:49 [en - fr]

Fri, 26 Jun 2009, Série "Vagabond, jour après jour"

While the fifth and last wintering of Vagabond in Inglefield Bay will be soon finished, Sailing News is coming with the series "Vagabond, day after day". The first episode is online since yesterday : http://www.sailingnews.tv/index.php?stream_playlist=3885#.

Posted Jun 2009 26 at 11:45 [en - fr]

Mon, 22 Jun 2009, Fêtes

Many reasons to have a party: summer solstice, music, fathers, Fred's 40th birthday... and the new label given to Vagabond, now Patrimonial Interest Boat! I try to imagine the atmosphere that most of those reading me might know these days. But I'm enjoying without regret the world around me, which doesn't care about yesterday or tomorrow. My neighbours the barnacle geese finished parading and are sitting on without a break. Terns are always screaming to give notice of their arrival. Seals are sunbathing, keeping one eye open. Polar bears are not yet visiting much Inglefield Bay, as pack ice is till allowing them to hunt further off shore. Sometimes, fog is taking hold, and I must trust the dog with me, even more on the watch when we meet fresh polar bear tracks.

Posted Jun 2009 22 at 15:05 [en - fr]

Mon, 15 Jun 2009, Quarantaine

Snow and wind today, it was only 10°C inside this morning. Of course, the stove had been turned off for a few days. In the sun, with the greenhouse effect, no heating is needed: if it's 2°C outside, it can be easily more than 20°C inside. Yesterday, not a breath of air, bright sun in a sky without clouds, ideal for sunbathing! It was even too warm for the dogs, and I waited for the evening for the daily ski-seal trip. The point is to spot a seal, and to head for it. When the dogs see it, the rate is suddenly faster and I don't need to push on my ski sticks anymore. Of course, the seal dives before we reach him. But as far as there is a seal visible on pack ice, the race keeps going!

Posted Jun 2009 15 at 11:36 [en - fr]

Mon, 08 Jun 2009, Contraste

After 3 weeks away, I'm back on board Vagabond. Alone, I'm waiting for thaw! It's snowing quietly, in total stillness. Almost, because dogs cannot stop singing, what a welcome! Today is the oceans world day: here, all around, as far as I can see, sea is hard and white. But rivers are in spate because snow is melting, and we needed a small helicopter to change crew. It was not anymore possible to ski, as I was hoping to. The pilot didn't stop the rotor, I hardly said hello to Julien, it is for him a sudden return to civilisation. "I've had an extraordinary experience... Now I have to share it with those who stayed down there, in the men's world... Another adventure is starting." (from the guest book)

Posted Jun 2009 08 at 21:50 [en - fr]

Thu, 28 May 2009, Tropiques

If snow and ice are melting around the boat, it is not as hot as in La Réunion, where Léonie and her parents came to share their adventures (http://www.auboutdureve.fr/). Next week-end, we will be in Saint-Malo (http://www.etonnants-voyageurs.com/)! Then it will be time for me to go back to Vagabond, where the weather is superb, +3°C, not a cloud. Julien, on board, wrote tonight: "I cannot get tired of the scenery which I still find extraordinary. All is quiet, there isn't the shadow of a polar bear, not even a track. Little scientific work is going well. Dogs, in front of me, are sleeping in the sun on top of their dog houses. RFI is still on strike! Unbelievable. So no news from the rest of the world. Which is fine."

Posted May 2009 28 at 21:15 [en - fr]

Fri, 15 May 2009, Fin de saison

3 o'clock in the morning, sun is not as high as at midday, and snow is getting harder: it is the right time to go on pack ice and plunge the CTD to the bottom of the fjord. Later, snow will be too soft and the snowmobile will get stuck. Light is superb during the "night". Few ice floes are drifting in the lead nearby, opened by yesterday westerly wind. Last scientists left on Monday evening, as well as France and Léonie, and a lot of equipment. Tomorrow, camp will be tidy up and I will be finished with instructions to Julien, who will replace me for 3 weeks. No sooner had he arrived at Vagabond than he could see a female polar bear and her two cubs, passing not far from us, while doing some pack ice thickness measurements.

Posted May 2009 15 at 06:59 [en - fr]

Sat, 09 May 2009, Hi-Tech

Success for the glider's first flight! The designers of this amazing under water glider were roused to see the autonomous instrument disappearing under pack ice... and coming back thirty minutes later, after accomplishing its mission. Great moment, with the midnight sun. The day before, we needed twenty minutes searching with helicopter, to find the big red buoy which has been drifting for one month across the frozen fjord. Ice was thick enough to land, and the valuable instruments were waiting for us, hanging under pack ice. Damocles high technology is now at Vagabond!

Posted May 2009 09 at 13:02 [en - fr]

Mon, 04 May 2009, Munitions

The polar bear that just came to visit us was not shy at all. We had to shoot 4 bullets in the air, 3 flares and one banger to make him move away. He came fast, Imiaq barked. He stopped at less than two meters from Frost! And yet it was the good weather for a rest day: cloudy and wet, too bad visibility to go and work on sea ice. Our 3 guests left yesterday: Johan and Erik, from NERSC, came for one week to test an impressive sonar able to measure ice drift, and Franck, from IPEV. In two days, we will welcome the last scientific team, and we hope we will manage to recover the instruments still drifting originally in Storfjord.

Posted May 2009 04 at 18:56 [en - fr]

Mon, 27 Apr 2009, Iisak

Léonie was waiting for him impatiently. Iisak came to spend the week-end with her, at last. With his mother Priitta, and her two Finnish compatriots, he came by snowmobile from Longyearbyen, where he lives all year round. Iisak could also met with his father Anton, Norwegian, who was passing here with his small group and his 41 dogs. This same week-end, we also had visits from ten skiers from Grand Nord Grand Large travel agency, and five skiers from Svalbard Nature travel agency, while a helicopter was flying in our bay for a moment, probably looking for polar bears... The two same age children, impassive, could play outside for a long time; finally wind stopped, spring is here.

Posted Apr 2009 27 at 17:26 [en - fr]

Mon, 20 Apr 2009, Zagrey

This Sunday morning, when I woke up, I found a polar bear sleeping at our dog Zagrey's place. In the night, the animal killed and partly ate him. We did not hear our dogs barking, we still don't understand why... Zagrey, Léonie's best friend, taranautes' faithful companion, is now lying near a little iceberg, in the middle of Inglefield's bay. He will leave for a last drift, when ice will break up. The polar bear came again tonight, quietly, and I decided to push him few kilometres away with the snowmobile. Jin, Frost and Imiaq are happy to be now a bit closer to the boat. On board, we are trying to make up the sudden gap, and to keep doing our jobs.

Posted Apr 2009 20 at 01:31 [en - fr]

Sat, 18 Apr 2009, Visites

Since our drifting experience, 8 days ago, the westerly wind never stopped: the instruments already covered more than 50 km towards south, at the mercy of ice... In the mean time, 9 French skiers visited us; then a team from the Norwegian Polar Institute (2 German, one Finnish and one Englishman), for 2 days, for snow and ice analysis. It was then an Estonian colleague, doing a solo ski-trip. And then yesterday night arrived an English-Lebanese scientific couple, and a friend-partner from Marseille (France), driven by our Italian friend and guide! To crown these series of visits, 2 polar bears were frequenting our bay today.

Posted Apr 2009 18 at 23:58 [en - fr]

Sat, 11 Apr 2009, Phoque et motoneige volante

A seal and a flying snowmobile. Here is what Léonie remembers from today. This morning, the weather is very nice, our little family is going on pack ice for usual work and picnic. A seal, curious, looks at us, Léonie and me, then dives. France is meeting us later, on skis behind three dogs. The CTD is just put back when wind from west is rising suddenly, we shorten lunch. "The sea !" is saying Léonie in front of open water. Few hectares of pack ice broke up, a lead is blocking our way, we are drifting offshore at 0,5km/h... Luckily, despite the strong wind, it is not cold, and above all, sky is clear. So the helicopter can come. Soon we are flying over the lead, now huge. The snowmobile and the sledge are transported to Vagabond during the second flight. A third flight is necessary to find again the scientific winch, detached from the sledge. The rescue team was so efficient that we didn't have much time think about such a drift without helicopter... Only the winch did not recover from this misadventure. Now we have to follow Argos position of the scientific instruments set up under the ice, hoping we will be able to reach them soon.

Posted Apr 2009 11 at 23:45 [en - fr]

Fri, 10 Apr 2009, Pleine lune

Twilight, at midnight, is now brighter than full moon. Permanent day light is setting up here for five months. Since the last team left, nice weather has been encouraging long dog sledge trips and experiments on pack ice. Except that the snowmobile broke down 2 days ago, and our dogs are not enough to pull scientific equipment to the field work location... But our little dog team would have enjoyed going longer with the two Norwegian skiers. After few minutes stop at Vagabond, they kept going south pulling hard their 85g pulkas (self-sufficient for 35 days), headphones on! Not long after, on the other side of the bay, I found new polar bear tracks from a female and a cub...

Posted Apr 2009 10 at 12:02 [en - fr]

Thu, 02 Apr 2009, Mission accomplie

Jean-Claude Gascard, Damocles coordinator, and his 3 colleagues, Guillaume Massé, Pascaline Bourgain and Michel Jouannic, left yesterday, by snowmobile, with the guide who came from Longyearbyen. Weather has been tricky during their stay on board, and for more than 3 full days we had to stay inside (in good spirits!), it was not possible to do much outside. Pack ice was sinking under the weight of snow, and it was hard to avoid getting stuck in the slush! At least, a good weather window allowed us to set up the oceanographic mooring: since 3 days, MOPS and ADCP are measuring non stop salinity, temperature and current, under the ice in Storfjord, at 9 km east of Vagabond. An Argos beacon is telling us about the instruments' position, which will be recovered around 10th of May.

Posted Apr 2009 02 at 10:42 [en - fr]

Tue, 24 Mar 2009, Plage ?

Pack ice has been taken away during last storm, 18th March. What a feeling to see open water! It is no more possible to access 100m depth, the track made between ice blocks doesn't exist anymore. France, Léonie and I were yesterday at the ice edge, near the very young ice under formation, covered with frost flowers, beautiful. The first scientific team arrived last night. Four "mates" for Léonie! It is cold (-30°C), ice is quickly becoming stronger. In few days, we hope that we will be able to go further on pack ice to set up the heavy and hi-tech instruments. In the mean time, we enjoy gifts, mail, cheese, newspapers... and listen to news from the rest of the world.

Posted Mar 2009 24 at 08:49 [en - fr]

Wed, 18 Mar 2009, Un mercredi sur la banquise

It's blowing a lot today, snow storm. The wind generator is turning to safety mode at every gust more than 40 knots (74 km/h). We keep busy inside. Not a weather for a dog to be out, bad luck for ours, which houses are entirely under snow drifts. Eric is a bit worry about the snowmobile track he will have to do again, in a reshaped landscape, to reach the field work site in Storfjord... Léonie, far from that, is enjoying her parents before scientists' arrival (next Monday). Last full moon passed, next one will be visible with permanent daylight... France

Posted Mar 2009 18 at 13:10 [en - fr]

Sun, 15 Mar 2009, Pouf

"Bump", is telling us Léonie, while the sledge is tipping up! After 8 days of snow, wind, poor visibility and temperatures close to zero, we are discovering again the landscape, and dogs are happy to run again. It is -30°C and pack ice is more welcoming, with all our measuring equipment. Threading our way through hummocks, it is now possible to reach depths about a hundred meters, needed for CTD casts. If the GPS can take us to the same positions than last years, scenery, renewed every winter, has changed a lot! Polar bear and fox tracks, or seal hole, are signs from our neighbours, certainly more relaxed than us when ice thickness is less than 40 cm...

Posted Mar 2009 15 at 21:59 [en - fr]

Fri, 06 Mar 2009, En avant la science

Spring is here, already! There is more activity around Vagabond now, it seems polar night was a long time ago... Friends came, a polar bear passed, sun is almost high at noon, and a lot of snow fell. Radiometers are now on their mast, recording light intensity reflected by sea ice, compare to the light received. First ice cores have been be sampled, we are watching for seaweed bloom. The electromagnetic icemeter, during its regular trips, is still looking at pack ice health. While the weather station is telling us everything, even when it is not good to put a dog out! And as for the last five years, the CTD is analysing again the fjord waters, and the incredible quantity of salt rejected by the rapidly growing pack ice.

Posted Mar 2009 06 at 16:48 [en - fr]

Tue, 03 Mar 2009, Films

Friday 6th of March 2009, at 8:30 pm on France 3 (French TV): "Les vagabonds des glaces", 30 minutes documentary by Hugues de Rosière for Thalassa.

Saturday 7th of March 2009, at 8:30 pm on France 2 (French TV): "Les héros de la biodiversité", short program presented by Allain Bougrain Dubourg, Suez Environnement and Océanopolis Brest.

Wednesday 11th March 2009, at 10 pm at Grand Action in Paris: "Sous les étoiles du pôle", 52 minutes documentary by Hugues de Rosière, shown during the polar film festival.

Posted Mar 2009 03 at 19:10 [en - fr]

Sat, 28 Feb 2009, Balançoire

For her second birthday, yesterday night, Léonie has got a swing! She first had a look to the big chocolate cake. Then, opening the present, she said smiling: "rope"! She smiled even more when discovering the animals drawn on the board, and the stories invented by France. She really laughed when she understood it was a swing, which we quickly hung up, happy to make her so joyful with the means at our disposal. In the end, Léonie blew her two candles, which were still lighting our nice little party.

Posted Feb 2009 28 at 08:57 [en - fr]

Mon, 23 Feb 2009, Banquise emportee

Yesterday morning, sun rose above a widely open fjord, pack ice has been blown away during Saturday's little storm! Luckily, Vagabond is still securely frozen in, ice in Inglefield Bay resisted. Expected supplies arrived; our first visitors gave a short but nice excitement. While cold, wind, snow and currents are sculpting pack ice again, our work field, we are well busy discovering what is inside all these boxes and starting the new experiments... Many pictures should be soon added here.

Posted Feb 2009 23 at 11:26 [en - fr]

Thu, 19 Feb 2009, Eblouissant

That's it, we saw him! One more time, the intensity of his light surprised and touched us. Until now, full moon, then twilight, were lighting brilliantly our days. We had slowly forgotten about broad daylight... For his return, the sun offered us an unforgettable festival, announced the previous evening by wonderful northern lights. But since, temperature raised terribly: +2°C, but we should not think this is a direct effect from the sun, such milder weather is not rare in Spitsbergen in winter. The first supply trip (scientific equipment, fresh food, mail...), planned today, is delayed for a few days, snow conditions are now too tricky for snowmobiles.

Posted Feb 2009 19 at 09:43 [en - fr]

Mon, 16 Feb 2009, Fin de nuit polaire

Every day, well installed on pack ice, we are watching for glow from the sun, at noon, in the south... If its beams didn't dazzle us yet, even for few seconds, the polar night is finished. Solar panels are set up and already giving us shortly some little amperes! For the last several days, at lunch time, stars have been disappearing and candles are not necessary anymore. But to paint the 18 watercolours ordered by Marek Kaminski, as the week went by, France had to use constantly her head lamp!

Posted Feb 2009 16 at 08:35 [en - fr]

Mon, 09 Feb 2009, Pleine lune

Next week, at noon, a little bit of sun will appear for few minutes. Hopefully the horizon will be clear! For now, wind and snow are inviting us to enjoy inside Vagabond. Temperature suddenly rose up to -12°C; But with 40 km/h of wind, the felt temperature was the same as yesterday: -32°C. But still, despite calm and silence associated with yesterday's cold and dry weather, the meteorological sounding, with the helium balloon, was not easy. Sensors were freezing, generator was stalling, cables were breaking up... but the valuable data has been saved, under an impassive full moon. And as usual, France and Léonie came to feed the dogs, at the end of the day.

Posted Feb 2009 09 at 15:40 [en - fr]

Sun, 01 Feb 2009, Cinq sens

For the last 2 weeks, temperatures have been fluctuating between 0 and -10°C, with very light winds. Our feeling being off time is even stronger. Outside, senses are standing by, very little appealed: the least little noise is absorbed by snow, sight is slowly coming back with twilight (from 10:20 to 13:40), smells are hibernating, touch is limited with our mitten and snow suits, and we cannot find a tasty bite to eat. Back inside the boat, our senses are waking up: music, lights, kitchen smells, free fingers and light clothes, choice of salty or sweet food and drinks!

Posted Feb 2009 01 at 11:38 [en - fr]

Thu, 29 Jan 2009, RFI

On the phone with Arielle Cassim, yesterday, in le Quotidien de la Mer, on Radio France Internationale.

Posted Jan 2009 29 at 08:15 [en - fr]

Sun, 25 Jan 2009, Redoux

Yesterday noon, while a little twilight was giving us some visibility around, a young bear turned up quickly! He visited the dogs, came back to Vagabond, then again near the dog houses, and finally went on. But no sign of his mother, although he was quite young to be alone; he should have followed her until age of 2,5 years old... In the dark, when measuring ice thickness, I usually go with Zagrey: if he doesn't like to pull a sledge, he is good to tell when a prowler is nearby.

Posted Jan 2009 25 at 09:39 [en - fr]

Mon, 19 Jan 2009, Reprise des sondages météo

The new balloon, conveyed to Longyearbyen by Edolone's crew last month, arrived with us, by snowmobile, on 10th January. At least, after few days preparation, inflated with helium, he could take off for the first flight. What an amazing view to see it disappearing in the night! Only the red leds from the weather sensors are visibles without the head lamp. Under the tent, by the oil lamp light, I had to use the hair drier to warm up the radio receiver, to get the valuable data, in real time. -23°C and no wind on the ground, -13°C and 40 km/h of wind at 1200 meters altitude...

Posted Jan 2009 19 at 10:40 [en - fr]

Thu, 15 Jan 2009, Petites habitudes

Breaking ice, keeping the stove, feeding the dogs, doing the weather report, running the generator for two hours... naturally we went on with our daily routines. I was looking forward to be back on board, and it was really great to find Vagabond kept in so good condition. Luckily, for 3 days, moon and northern lights were offering us a beautiful festival, on our best pack ice. For now, with her little head lamp, Léonie is above all happy visiting the dogs, looking after our small camp.

Posted Jan 2009 15 at 19:19 [en - fr]

Thu, 15 Jan 2009, Retour à la maison...

"Back home... This is with a strong emotion that we have seen the headlights coming closer from the back of the bay with the light of a beautiful full moon. We hadn’t seen people for three months and it was amazing to welcome six people on-board. It was a pleasure to see the Léonie’s happiness finding again her « home boat » and to share a meal with so much things to tell about. After a short night, it was time to leave France and Eric alone to their turn in this wonderful place. Three guides on snowmobiles have driven us during 4 hours through the snow-capped valleys and glaciers with a temperature of -35°C, so the lights of Longyearbyen have been welcome! We have left Vagabond and our friends the dogs with some unforgettable pictures and emotions. Before our return in France we are lucky to stay for one week in Svalbard, living at Anton and Priitta’s home. We are helping them to take care of their fifty sledge dogs. How great it is to drive a dog team! We than k Eric and France who gave us the opportunity to live this extraordinary experience on board Vagabond and they know that if they need, it would be no problem for us to go back on-board…" Amélie, Hervé et Nael.

Posted Jan 2009 15 at 19:18 [en - fr]

Sun, 11 Jan 2009, Changement d'équipe

Despite the cold (-33°C) and the 4 hours by snowmobile, to go to Vagabond, Léonie (2 years old) was suddenly very exciter to find her boat and the dogs! And Nael (5 years old) was very happy to make her laugh by telling stories, after 3 months on board... The "pal" left today with his parents, Amélie and Hervé, under a great full moon, escorted by our 3 friends guides, Erik, Sveinenung and Tommy.

Posted Jan 2009 11 at 19:36 [en - fr]

Thu, 08 Jan 2009, Chaud - Froid

While Hervé is trying to fix Vagabond's stove, France, Léonie and I are in transit in Oslo, with the needed spare parts. Waiting for us to come back, the little family replacing us since 10th October, is taking care of the other heating systems, it's -32°C outside! Eric

Posted Jan 2009 08 at 23:30 [en - fr]

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