After one year in the region we call ArcticEarth NORTH, we will be operating the entire 2023 season further south in the gateway to the Arctic, the region we call ArcticEarth SOUTH: the Gulf of Maine and the Canadian Maritimes (in 2024, we return to Greenland).
2023 Expeditions
Our 2023 expeditionary focus will be exploring the connections between NORTH and SOUTH, within our region of the northwest Atlantic. The lineup so far looks like: a science team studying plankton genomics and behavior, a group of writers examining the mysteries of the intertidal in the Bay of Fundy, a visit to the Kent Island Research Station of Bowdoin College, a group of still photographers workshopping with well-known maritime photographer Allison Langley, and filmmakers recording the life that moves from Maine to Greenland. As of mid-March, we still have a few open single berths on some of these trips, and a few other open weeks in July for a full vessel charter.
Sean Yoro is a favorite artist of mine working in the northwest Atlantic (his artist name is HULA). See how he connects NORTH and SOUTH, with murals featuring women at the water’s edge. More on HULA below.
Maine's outer islands in March & April
Each year on the second Sunday in March, daylight on the coast of Maine suddenly extends an hour further into the evening. As the warmth of spring rapidly approaches, people naturally start to think about boats.
Late-March and April are secret months of beauty on the Maine coast. Only a few nautical miles from the mainland on a boat, we enter another world and a distant sea. There are occasional harlequin ducks, harp seals, and other Arctic wildlife who venture into these waters at the southern edges of their geographical range. In March and April, the outer islands are de-peopled. Simplicity and solitude abound.
A portrait of a man who loves to track animals during this time of year can be seen in this new 12-min short film ISLAND ANIMAL TRACKER, just released by Compass Light Productions.
The sailing vessel ArcticEarth is specifically outfitted to explore the Maine coast during March and April: with heated cabins, cozy comforters, and hearty breakfasts shared with fellow adventurers in the morning sun of the pilothouse. We will start offering outer island trips next year (March 2024)- sailing and hiking and opportunistic xc-skiing.
Featured in the most recent Ocean Navigator. “Drying out is commonly done in certain parts of the world, where the tidal range and cycle allows. Historically, wooden vessels in need of remote repair would seek out careening beaches. But drying out is not a common practice these days for a modern deep-keeled ocean voyager. ArcticEarth demonstrates…”
NETFLIX is releasing six new blockbuster nature shows. Last season, ArcticEarth provided production services in Greenland for OUR OCEANS.
From our friends at THE NORTH FACE, more on the artist HULA. Art critic Jessica Stewart also interviews the artist for My Modern Met.
The annual mid-February release of Gulf of Maine sea surface temperature data from 2022 is presented and discussed at Gulf of Maine Research Institute. This is vital evidence for understanding links between ArcticEarth NORTH and SOUTH.
Gulf of Maine science will take a leap forward with the Hurricane Island Field Research Station. The carbon negative project from OPAL uses CLT and wood fiber insulation from TimberHP. A Compass Light / Lewis Family Foundation film is in production.