France is playing the final next Sunday. May be the ice breaking up will be complete this same day, letting Vagabond finally free from the last 150m of ice? For now, we enjoy the very nice weather after 5 days of fog and drizzle, and the heart of Inglefield Bay is busy. Polar bears are hunting seals, or sleeping, or visiting Vagabond. On board, we sometimes have to jump out of our bunks, or stop our work, to help the dogs to dissuade a young polar bear more curious than the others. Or only to watch and listen to 2 cubs bickering, few metres from us. As for the Black Iceberg, he is free again and went away with the currents.

After one week trip around Svalbard, fantastic and unforgettable, Lance arrived yesterday night (permanent day light) at Inglefield Bay, at the end of which Vagabond is peacefully waiting for the complete ice breaking up. The heavy and wet fog did not allow us to use the helicopter to bring the cabin, which is plan to be set up on the moraine close de the yacht, to have a workshop, for DAMOCLES, for the next 2 winterings. Sébastien and I then went with the small boat from Lance to the ice edge where Enora, Yann and the 3 dogs were waiting for us, at about 200 meters from Vagabond. Enora and Jin fell in the water, while we were bringing the small boat alongside the ice, very fragile at this time of the year ; 3 polar bears were watching the scene, probably surprised! Time to meet together was too short and touching, dogs were shouting when Enora and Yann left. We found the boat impeccable and in perfect conditions, with fresh bread, home made yoghurts and even growing sala ds! A real pleasure to have entrusted Vagabond to them for one and a half month.

Special report on fascinating polar world, July-August issue

6 pages article about the European scientific programme DAMOCLES

Vagabond and open water are still separated by about 3km of fast ice. Seals are more and more in Inglefield Bay, and there was also a female polar bear and her cub yesterday. During this summer solstice period, salads are growing better than ever inside the boat, giving a bit of greens to Enora and Yann for their last week on board. For my part, I'm back to Longyearbyen after one month in France, and I'm getting ready to embark on Sunday on board Lance, ship of the Norwegian Polar Institute, with my team mate Sébastien, to go to Vagabond and to replace Enora and Yann.

Launching of the sailing TV on Internet, France and Eric are sponsors

It's raining today and fog is not encouraging for long trips, but salads are growing slowly on board Vagabond! Between hair cut and generator oil change, fishing attempt are still not successful. Snow is softer and softer, water ponds are more and more on sea ice, trips are often very wet, but Enora and Yann are having a very good time. They even did a small sledge with a box, a barrel and skis, to better travel around with the dogs. Good fun for sure!

2 articles about sailors fond of icy waters, June and July issues

No polar bear for one week, very nice weather, Enora and Yann are feeling better to walk around Vagabond. Their technique is improving to ski with the dogs, or to bake bread, while sea ice keeps drifting slowly away in front of Inglefield Bay.

New book about poles for young people, Milan editions, short collaboration with Vagabond