North of Disko will see a crew of sailors, kayakers, climbers, a photographer and filmmaker set sail from the west coast of Ireland to the northwest coast of Greenland in mid June 2013.
The crew aim to cover the 1500nm to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, in about 14 days and then continue north, reaching Upernavik, well inside the Arctic Circle, a week later. From there, a team of four will set out on a 300km unsupported sea kayak, navigating through fjords and ice fields, while the team of three climbers will begin to tackle a series of first accents, as they follow the kayakers south. Adding a further dimension to the expedition, photographer Daragh Muldowney aims to explore and capture the beauty of this spectacular coastline, with the aim of publishing a book and hosting an exhibition upon return.
The entire expedition and its achievements will also be documented through film. Leading the crew on board the 49ft, ex admirals cup racing yacht the Killary Flyer is Jamie Young, 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 also includes four young twenty-somethings embarking on the adventure of a lifetime as well as seasoned kayakers Ali Donald, Kevin O'Callaghan and climber Collin Gibbon.
Further information on the expedition, crew and updates on preparations can be found at www.northofdisko.com.