During a voyage from the Arctic to the Antarctic this expedition takes a novel approach to describing the urgent environmental challenges of our time. By comparing the journal records and sketches of the first European explorers and naturalists with the observations and photography of this modern journey, a unique and first-hand impression of change will be provided. This picture of historical change will be supplemented by reference to contemporary conservation science, through a continuous series of marine biodiversity surveys, and through a focus on environmental stewardship by local communities committed to preparing for a better future.
Aim 1: To re-visit wild coastlines first explored hundreds of years ago and examine how these areas have changed in the intervening years.
Aim 2: To showcase positive examples of local adaptation by communities to alleviate impacts to livelihoods and lifestyles caused by climate change.
Aim 3: To empower people to make critical lifestyle choices in the interest of the planet by showcasing low carbon and low footprint alternatives.
The Journey
This sailing expedition spans the height of the globe – starting in Trømso, Norway, the two person team aims to sail from the Svalbard Archipelago all the way to the Antarctic Peninsula – a distance of over 17,000 nautical miles.
Approximate itinerary (italics represents completed passage)
| DATE | LOCATION | HIGHLIGHTS |
| 2012 | ||
| 18 June | Depart Tromsø | Ocean passage across the Barents Sea via Bjørnøya |
| June – July | Svalbard | Wildlife, local communities, diving |
| July – August | Greenland – Iceland | Ocean passage via Jan Mayen, glaciers, Inuit lifestyles, diving |
| September-October | Faroe Islands – UK – Ireland | Ocean passage, offshore Islands, exploring Celtic heritage |
| November – December | UK – Spain – Portugal | Ocean passage, Atlantic coast |
| 2013 | ||
| January – February | Morocco – Cap Verde Islands | Exploring the diverse cultures of northern Africa |
| March – April | Bissagos Islands | Immersing ourselves in one of the last untouched wildernesses in the world |
| May | Atlantic crossing | Four weeks at sea |
| June | Amazon delta | Estuary management, Amazonian manatee |
| July – August | Venezuela | Sailing up the Orinoco River, forest conservation |
| September – October | Peninsula Valdez | Southern Right Whales |
| November | Tierra del Fuego | Refit for Antarctica, tourism for development |
| December | South Georgia | Wilderness and wildlife, toothfish management, science |
| 2014 | ||
| January | Antarctic Peninsula | Wilderness and wildlife, climate change, tourism |
| February | Antarctic Peninsula | Wilderness and wildlife, climate change, tourism |
| March | Tierra del Fuego | Project completion |
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Landscapes and seascapes
Starting amidst the broken sea-ice of the Arctic spring melt and ending amidst the jagged peaks and glaciers of the Antarctic Peninsula the adventure will take two in the blue through some of the most spectacular scenery that lies between the two poles. From awe inspiring polar landscapes to tropical forests and coral reefs, and from the wide open ocean to the narrow waterways through the Amazonian jungle, this journey will pass through some of the most magnificent scenery on the planet.
Wildlife
Landscapes are not composed of just bare rock, but also of the life that defines each region. As two in the blue travel from the coldest parts of the Earth to the warmest and back again, they will sail through some of the most charismatic flora and fauna on the planet. Polar bears, whales and walrus will give way to tropical forests teeming with life and colourful coral reefs. Eventually the ice will begins to take hold again and the denizens of the tropics will retreat and finally give way to the penguins and seals that call Antarctica home.
Conservation
In the face of climate change and other threats on the ecosystems we rely upon conservation and adaptation are essential to many human populations. A switched on approach to conservation has resulted in improvements in lifestyle and wellbeing. Two in the Blue will showcase examples of conservation activities that benefit both the landscapes and wildlife and the people that call these landscapes home.
Climate change
Significant climate change now affects the entire planet, and nowhere is this more apparent than the poles. On the journey we will document and record local examples of climate induced change and how this affects not only the wildlife but also the people spread in communities across the globe. From acid oceans to melting ice and changing shorelines we will also show how changes starting in the poles have the potential to affect the entire planet.
Science and local people
Conservationists commonly look at wildlife and wilderness as separate from the people that depend upon the environment around them. We will be meeting communities that rely upon the ecosystem around them, and indeed have an empathy and understanding of this environment that is inspiring. With traditional approaches to land management challenged by changing conditions, we will showcase examples of how local communities and scientist are building positive solutions that can assist in building resilient and healthy ecosystems as well as contributing to a more sustainable approach to life on the planet.
Adventure
The age of exploring new coastlines may have faded into the history but Patrick and Leonie have made adventure and exploration a major feature of their life. With past journeys spanning the globe and including some of the most remote and spectacular areas on the planet, there is still too much to explore to sit still for too long. Two in the Blue is a way of combining their love of adventure with their professional drive to ensure the worlds valuable ecosystems are saved from the various threats imposed by human development.
Logistics
Communication
Two in the blue is a journey of discovery not only for Patrick and Léonie, but also for the entire world. Communication will be a key requirement of the journey and the experiences of two in the blue will be updated daily on the web. Updates will be transmitted by SSB radio from all points on the journey and followers of the journey will be invited to submit queries and questions which will be answered as soon as possible.
Risks
Any trip on this scale includes a wide array of risks. On one hand, risks are part of what makes an expedition, but on the other hand it is the responsibility of any expedition to make sure that all risks are considered and avoided or minimized wherever possible. Two in the blue are proactively addressing risks through experience, training, equipment and in some cases by avoiding hazardous situations. A full risk assessment of the project is available to any interested parties.
I am a friend of your Nan Pat’s. She told me of your adventures. I will watch your site.
Byeeee Robin
We just had drinks with your folks in sri Lanka. We’re yachties as well but not such intrepid ones. Your dad is not comfortable thinking about the voyage and we think it’s brave and, quite frankly, perpendicular to the more sensible route. But then, who wnts to be sensible. Good luck
Hello you two (or 3 if I understood correctly)!
I keep tracking you regularly, and I have to say I’m really impressed about the journey you are doing, even though I had no doubt! Nice blog, nice pictures, impressive adventure!
Glad to see everythings is fine (except some delay in Agadir?)! I hope we’ll have the opportunity to meet somewhere, not sure where, sometimes, not sure when…
Wish you the best!
Take care,
a frog
Hey Mael, great to hear from you, mate! I’m sure we’ll cross paths somewhere down the track, if not by chance, we’ll have to make sure! All the best from the 2.5 of us …
Hallo Ihr beide,
ich schreib’ mal in Deutsch. Mein Englisch ist nicht perfekt und Leonie hat ja zum Glück keine Probleme damit. Wir – mein Bruder und ich – haben Euch in in der vergangenen Woche beim Mittagessen in Essaouira getroffen. Tolle Fotoserien habt Ihr schon von Eurer Reise, sicher nur eine kleine Auswahl. Wir wünschen Euch gaaaaanz viel Erfolg, das notwendige Glück und (anders als in Essaouira) stets eine Handbreit Wasser unter’m Kiel.
Streichelt bitte auch Spaarow-Saurus von uns.
Liebe Grüße aus dem deutlich kälteren Rostock (aktuell 0° und leichter Schneefall)
Horst und Hartmut Domröse
Lieber Hartmut und Horst,
Vielen Dank für die lieben Wünsche! Wir sind inzwischen in Agadir, sind bisher nicht mehr auf Grund gelaufen, dafür haben wir jetzt Probleme mit dem Propeller … immer was los hier. Sparrow-saurus liegt momentan auf meinem Schoss und geniesst die Streicheleinheiten aus dem Norden!
Liebe Grüsse
Léonie, Patrick und Sparrow
patrick, leonie -
look forward to seeing you next Nov 2013. hopefully on some peri-antactarctic island. I’ll be reading and watching the whole way down. you two are champions of adventure and vision. it’s stirring… and it has something to do with the cry “freedom!” I wish you speed, agility, and attention to detail.
onward, solan
hola Patrick y Leonie nos conocimos anteayer en Cariño y os deseo buena suerte y buen viaje. Hasta siempre, un amigo Luis.
Os conocí en Cariño el viernes 29 de diciembre y charlamos un poquito a pesar de mis pocos conocimientos de ingles, Patrick me entregó su correo y yo me despedí de buena manera de ambos (Patrick y Leonie). )Os deseo un buen viaje y hasta siempre amigos.
Dear Luis, it was a pleasure to meet you! We wish you a happy new year and all the best! Léonie and Patrick
Hi There,
We meet you guys in Svalbard late July 2012 when you were out walking your new addition (husky puppy, who discovered that eating grass and white fluffy flowers was quite tasty). What an amazing adventure and journey you guys’ have ahead of you.
We will be following your progress.
Take care
From Pascale & Kjell Arne in Norway
Hi Pat,
it was nice making your acquaintance today, best of luck for your crossing over to Greenland!
Rupert
Hi Pat
Met you on the Ioffe in Antarctica in Feb 2011. Now I am off to Svalbard in June this year on the Vavilov with Paul Goldstein. Looks like you will be up there too to start your adventure. Who knows – maybe you can meet up with us. Wish you all the very best and will follow your journey with great interest.
All the best and God’s Speed.
Jo Olsen
G’day! Sounds like a great trip guys! I look forward to watching it unfold. What is your route along Greenland & Newfoundland? Are you just pausing in Greenland, or cruising the west coast at all? If so, maybe we can swap some tips. And Newfoundland too… Are you going down west or east side? We went west – strait of belle isle. Was great. =) Aust Geo contacted me to see if I had any advice re insurance for Spitzbergen – which I don’t, sorry. For my yacht, a little 29 foot wooden thing, sailing through the Northwest Passage – I got insurance from Lloyds through a canadian firm (Dolphin Insurance) that gave me cover for 1. Accidental bodily injury and illness. 2. Accidental property damage, including damage to another watercraft. That is all. They would not provide rescue insurance. And no one would insure the yacht itself for sailing through such places (I don’t blame them!). Sorry I can’t be of more help on this.
Best wishes & fair winds!
Cheers
Chris
Awesome Antarctic season dude, good times, big dreams! Beer for life….
What an adventure! So proud of you Pat, wishing you safe an exciting
Travels. Will be following you the whole way!
Wow! So cool to see your dreams come to fruition! You two are so inspirational. Have never met Leonie, but Pat, we’re very proud to have met you and wish both of you a very safe and rewarding trip. Take good care of one another!
Thanks for the inspiration!
wow!!! All the best Leonie and Patrick in the preparation of the trip and have fun on this historical journey!!!
Hi Pat!
need any help with the communications logistics? I might be able to help.
Talk soon,
N
Hi Patrick,
Wonderful website and your expedition seems so wild and interesting, I love it!!! Thumbs up for the 2 of you for the great preparation work, I’ll follow your adventures regularly
Good luck in everything and have fun!
Sylvie
Great your expeditions!!!!!!
I would like to be younger and ask you to join for this great experience, especially for the part of Caribbean, because I have worked 8 years in Maldives Islands and Kenya, as naturalist underwater divemaster (more then 3500 dives in tropical seas), photographer and filmaker, and then in the last 15 years, I visited more then 50 countries in the intertropical area (especially Indian and Pacific Ocean) to get pictures and movie for a divulgative marine biology book about tropical seas, I’m writing…..but I am 58!!!
Anyway, I will be very glad to follow your journey and your adventures!!!!
Best regards
Clara
awesome project!
Your trip sounds amazing Pat! Can’t wait to follow your progress & catch up for that Breakfast in bed sometime, somewhere
Love your site, Pat, inspiring… As I told you before, after showing your site at home, we might end up seeing each other somewhere in the blue
Big hug,
Kim
Hi Pat
You lucky sod! Miriam sent me your website – very impressive actually. Are you having more fun than a day in the attic at WWF-AP? I think so.
Take care.
Jeff