Our Expeditions

In early May 2013 the expedition motorsailer “Gypsy Life” will cast off her lines again at Kapfelberg (Regensburg) on the Danube and set out on another expedition to the lands of the bears. Through the German canals to the gateway to the Baltic (Travemünde), on northwards to Norway (Bergen), then with the change of course to the west towards Iceland, Greenland and eastern Canada – that is to make up the first leg. The southerly course we hold keeps open the entrance to Lake Superior (the USA/Canada border region) or the entrance to the Mississippi (Gulf of Mexico). An overland transport across the Rocky Mountains is then to bring us to western Canada. From there the compass needle points north until the coordinates show our destination, Alaska. After a journey of four to five years and several winterings in the Arctic we will try, depending on the ice conditions and the weather, to reach our home harbour on the Danube again by way of the Northwest Passage.
For the first time, and quite uniquely, a special expedition motorcycle will be used on this expedition, carried across the seas on the ship’s superstructure. With the motorcycle we will make explorations from the remotest anchorages in the Arctic, including photography of the endless expanses of the hinterland, the unique wildlife and the indigenous people. The extremely demanding physical challenge lies not only in coping with the exceptionally difficult terrain, but much more in the Arctic weather conditions we have to endure. In addition, partial crossings of individual countries are planned, after research on the spot.
The aim of our expedition, which will last several years, is to obtain more precise observational data on natural conditions in the Arctic and, where possible, to document them photographically. It matters to us to encourage people’s awareness of nature through what we do. People who are enthusiastic about nature make possible a conservation that takes effect at once and costs all of us nothing.

The Gypsy Life and her crew cast off the lines and hoist the sail for this year’s new expedition and trial voyage, titled “Saimaa Wilderness/Karelia”. From the harbour of Kapfelberg on the Danube the voyage leads along the rivers and canals to Lübeck, the gateway to the Baltic. From here we hold a course for eastern Sweden, in order to cross the Gulf of Bothnia and reach the Åland Islands in Finland. The onward passage runs along the south coast of Finland as far as Vyborg in Karelia, Russia. Through the Saimaa Canal we reach the end of this leg, Lappeenranta (the Saimaa lake district) in Finland. From there an endless lakeland opens up with beautiful nature that we want to explore. Not only this untouched nature, but also a series of tests of various pieces of equipment concerning the renewable energy supply of a permanently inhabited ship (comparable to a household) and safety in small-craft boating is to be the purpose of this voyage. The interplay of wind generator, photovoltaics and the storage of the energy gained is to cover the daily electricity consumption in future. An additional sail will improve the propulsion of the ship “Gypsy Life”, so that we can travel even more self-sufficiently in the remotest areas. A special water filter system makes it possible to take on fresh water of any kind, however contaminated it may be. As a result there is no need to carry bottled drinking water, which is hard to dispose of in the wilderness. All these measures are meant to lead to a life in harmony with nature. The aim is to show at the end of this expedition to what extent it really is possible to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels by using the new equipment and by saving where we can.

The plan is to depart from Holland for Scotland, by way of the Orkney, Shetland and Faroe Islands and Iceland to East Greenland. Rounding the notorious Cape Farewell (southern Greenland), with the onward passage along the west coast of Greenland, is probably the most difficult leg. From there we head for Baffin Island (Canada). For the next one and a half years the east coast of Canada is to be the exploring ground for the expedition ship “Gypsy Life” and her crew. Two winterings in this magnificent landscape are planned. In almost untouched nature we want to live as neighbours of wolf, bear and caribou.
We will visit settlements of the native peoples living in this region (Cree, Kashechewan, Inuit, Innu, Micmac, Metis, Miawpukek) to get to know their traditions and their survival strategies under the harsh natural conditions there. Canada’s east coast will certainly hold far more surprises for us than we can imagine today in our wildest dreams. The Logbook on this website will report at regular intervals on the progress of our expedition. Our undertaking can thus be followed worldwide.

Expedition Ice 2008 is a title that stands for an extraordinary tour towards Spitsbergen this year. Extraordinary because the roughly 7000nm – 12,964 km are to be covered in about 9 months in a motor vessel only 12m long and 4m wide.

The journey begins on 20 March 2008 at 09:00 in Drachten, Holland, the birthplace of the ship (Smelne Yachts BV). From there to Denmark, across the Skagerrak to Norway, up to the departure point Tromsø, to cross the Barents Sea from there to Spitsbergen.
From north-west Spitsbergen the onward passage along the pack ice to Greenland is planned, depending on the ice situation. Then the coast of Greenland is to be followed south, on to Iceland, the Faroes, Shetland and the Orkney Islands. From Scotland across the North Sea, the expedition ends back in Holland.

The aim of the expedition is to produce a direct, practical report, understandable to everyone, on the actual extent of the retreat of the ice. The question of whether the melting of the ice is caused by a natural cycle or by present-day environmental influences will be answered. That is why the remotest research stations and indigenous inhabitants will be visited, so that the report, together with Harald Paul’s own findings, reflects the real situation.

This adventurous undertaking is being accompanied by the magazine “Yachtvision” in several issues, with text and photos.

The voyage begins on 31 March 2007 in the harbour of Saal a.d. Donau and ends in the same harbour again at about 20–25 October 2007. The route leads through the rivers and canals of Germany, entering the Baltic at Travemünde. On to Denmark by way of the island of “Anholt” to “Gothenburg” – Sweden. There, the entrance into the “Göta Canal” as far as “Mem”. Along the east coast of Sweden as far as “Luleå” – Swedish Lapland. Back along the Finnish west coast to “Turku”, by way of the Åland Islands to Stockholm. Then down the east coast of Sweden to the Danish island of “Bornholm”. The island of Rügen with the harbour of “Sassnitz” will be the first German harbour. Along the north coast of Germany to Travemünde and then on south to the Danube.

In 2006 the crew of the Gypsy Life cast off to sail round the British Isles. The passage plan in brief: start Drachten – towards the French coast – Normandy – Guernsey – Land’s End – along the Irish west coast (Atlantic) – Scotland – Caledonian Canal – along the English east coast – Drachten.