Labrador's Wild Coast by Private Yacht
Aboard the Regal North Sea Trawler Wanderbird

Duration:	trips range 11 - 14 days
Dates:	Voyage 1 - July 14 - 24, 2008 St. Anthony, NL to Nain, NL Voyage 2 - July 26 - Aug 7, 2008 (waitlist) Round Trip Nain to Northern Labrador & Saglek Fiord Voyage 3 - Aug 10 - 22, 2008 (waitlist) Round Trip Nain to Northern Labrador & Saglek Fiord Voyage 4 - Aug 25 - Sept. 8, 2008 Nain, NL to St. Anthony, NL
Cost:	Voyage 1 - $3,200 (USD) +7% tax. Voyage 2 - $5,200 (CND). Voyage 3 - $5,200 (CND). Voyage 4 - $3,990 (USD) +7% tax.

Newfoundland-Labrador – a land of myths and legends, ancient history, and raw natural beauty that has witnessed little change since first sighted and inhabited by Viking explorers. With over 300,000 square kilometers of unspoiled land, Labrador is among the world’s last great wilderness areas - a magnificent and special frontier. Its mountain ranges contain some of the oldest exposed rock on the planet, and feature sheer walls that soar 5,000 breathtaking feet out of the ocean. Barren-ground caribou, moose, wolves, lynx, and Arctic hare roam the land, Polar bears lumber along the coast, its waters abound with whales, seals, salmon, and ice-bergs, and its skies exhibit the greatest variety and number of seabirds on the planet. It was among these wonders where Palaeo Indians thrived nearly 9,000 years ago, where the Vikings first landed on North America, and where Basque whalers established the New World’s first industry, rendering whale oil for Europe. Aboard the regally converted North Sea trawler, Wanderbird, we will explore Newfoundland/Labrador’s coast and apply "discovery" style cruising, sailing eight to twelve hours each day and anchoring in a safe and beautiful harbor each evening. Participants will have several hours each day to explore in the ship's kayaks or hike ashore prior to departure or after arrival. Group members will have the opportunity to participate in planning the voyage – each evening we will have an informal meeting of the ship's company to discuss events of the day and options for the next day. Along Labrador’s coast, where weather can play a crucial role in daily activities, this approach enhances cruising safety, as well as spontaneous opportunity and the sense of adventure. And, in a true small ship like the Wanderbird, we can explore the smaller, more pristine, and less accessible harbors - harbors that cannot be planned in advance. In sum, the program allows us to investigate and “discover” Labrador’s wild coastline, to look and linger, and if something special attracts our attention, to explore it. We will ply the waters of Labrador’s coast and “Iceberg Alley,” exploring spectacular fiords, visiting quaint fishing villages, some deeply-rooted in aboriginal culture, as well as ancient and historic sites long since abandoned. We will absorb the unique nature of the sea, tidelands, and dramatic landscapes that transition from vast tracts of timber to awe inspiring mountains and treeless tundra. Along these shores a wild and wonderful phenomenon occurs: two of the ocean’s greatest currents, the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream, meet. This combination of vastly different temperatures attracts a variety of marine life seen in only a few places of the world. Some 22 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises chase sustenance through plankton and capelin rich waters. Labrador’s coast is home to more seabirds than anywhere in the world – puffins, kittiwakes, Strom petrels, gannets, and murres to mention but a few. Voyages 1 and 4 will generally follow the historic route of the Coastal Mail Boats, generations of which have served Labrador’s isolated out-ports. The majority of these small harbor communities were settled by fishermen over two centuries ago. Voyages 2 and 3 ply the waters of Labrador’s wilderness north coast, where no present day communities exist. Highlights we will likely encounter are outlined herein. Excerpts from our 2006 Labrador Voyage: “As we sailed from St. Anthony harbour we received word that a pod of Orca or Killer Whales were in the vicinity. The six foot tall dorsal fin of the Orca was soon sited and we all logged our first viewing of this king of the food chain…During the crossing [Strait of Belle Isle], we sited no fewer than seventy five humpback and finback whale, accompanied by hundreds of white beaked dolphins and thousands of pelagic sea birds of countless varieties. We all agreed that this most remarkable spectacle was the ultimate definition of the term “Teeming with life”. Our wonderful dolphin escorts never left our side as we sighted land and toasted our own arrival to this most beautiful and wild place, The Labrador!” “…We all stared mouths agape as our sturdy ship weaved among the rocks to enter this long deserted fishing outport. Henley Harbour was defended by an English fort built in 1766. A graveyard and remains of the fort were visible on the outskirts of a quaint and decaying village that was totally abandoned in 1995. After a fine afternoon of hiking, exploring and stocking our fresh berry supply, we returned to our floating home for another of the mouth watering feasts that we would enjoy throughout the entire voyage.” “…Working along the magnificent coast, our bow lookout shouted “Iceberg ahead” and we all rushed to the starboard side to view another first. The shimmering gargantuan appeared in brilliant blue/white at a distance of 5 miles. We had trouble gauging the size of the behemoth until we were close enough to see that it towered over our sixty foot mainmast and reduced the 150 ton Wanderbird to the proportions of a toy boat as we stood along side at a respectful distance.” ITINERARY Voyage 1 July 14–24, 2008 $3,200 USD, +7% tax St. Anthony, NL to Nain, NL Voyage 4 Aug. 25 – Sep.8, 2008 $3,990 USD, +7% tax Nain, NL to St. Anthony, NL (reverse of Voyage 1) Note: Voyage 4 will provide a more thorough investigation of the Labrador coast, spending more time on land and adding stops at several remote Inuit settlements en route. St. John’s, Newfoundland is the common gateway for these special expeditions. With a history dating from discovery by John Cabot in 1497, St. John’s and the Avalon region are worthy of several days of independent exploration, either at the beginning or end of our journey. Participants must arrive in St. John’s at least the night prior to departure. Arctic Odysseys is happy to assist with accommodation arrangements. Day 1 Via St. John’s, participants will assemble independently in St. Anthony. If taking an early morning flight out of St. John’s, and en route to St. Anthony, you will have time to visit L'Anse Aux Meadows, a Canadian National Historic site and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discovered by a Norwegian team in 1960, this site is the earliest known European settlement in the New World, dating to the 11th century. Reconstructions of three Norse buildings are the focal point of L'Anse Aux Meadows, while exhibits highlight the Viking lifestyle, artifacts, and archaeological discovery. Once reaching St. Anthony, we also recommend a visit to the Grenfell House Museum and Interpretation Centre, the Dockhouse Museum, and the Rotunda - a display of ceramic murals by Jordi Bonet that depict the culture and the history of Newfoundland and Labrador – often referred to as the best kept artistic secret in the Province. Participants can board the Wanderbird in the evening (after 6 PM), which will be docked at the St. Anthony “Old Government Wharf” pier. Day 2 After breakfast on board, and an expedition briefing by the Wanderbird Captains, Rick and Karen Miles, our voyage will begin. We will cross the Strait of Belle Isle bound for Red Bay, where we plan to anchor for the night. Day 3 In the morning we will make land and visit the National Historic Site at Red Bay, where Basque whalers established the first major industrial complex in the New World. After lunch, we will voyage north toward Chateau Bay (Henley Harbour), passing the remarkable mesa-like cliffs of Henley and Castle Islands. Weather permitting, we will visit the abandoned town Henley Harbour, as well as the remains of nearby Fort York, built in 1766 for the protection of the Labrador fisheries. Days 4-10 (Voyage 4, days 4-14) We will land at Battle Harbour, a noted fishing port since the early 1750’s and the site of Labrador’s first hospital, established by Dr. Wilfred Grenfell in 1893. It was also the most northerly wireless station at the time of Robert Peary's expedition to the North Pole, and the location from which he transmitted his famous declaration, "The Pole is ours." Fortunately, Battle Harbor, designated a National Historic District, eluded the modernization that swept Newfoundland and Labrador in the decades after Confederation in 1949, leaving a priceless heritage virtually intact. North of Battle Harbor the coast is characterized by thick woods, in stark contrast to the tundra of north Labrador. Communities comprise a mix of summer fishing stations and “wintering stations,” some of which have become permanent. Among these is Pinsent Arm - though a winter residence for some stationers on and off from the 1860s onward, the community did not receive electricity until 1985. Our route passes through Gannet Islands Ecological Reserve, a major seabird breeding colony for murres, puffins, and black-legged kittiwakes. We land at Cartwright, which is the largest community on the southern coast of Labrador (population about 650). Established in 1770 by Captain George Cartwright of England, the town was a prosperous fur trapping location and trading post. In 1837 the Hudson Bay Company took over the trading post and operated it until after World War II. The Norse accounts mention long, white sand beaches, identified as the Strand just north of Cartwright. This remarkable feature, along an otherwise rocky and ironbound coast, was known to Vikings as the Furdustrands or wonder-strand. To cruise its entire 40-mile length leaves no doubt as to the name given. Via Groswater Bay, we will cruise to Rigolet. The scenery in this region is grand, with the Mealy Mountains, Mount Nat and the Backbay all visible from the ship. With a fur trapping and fishing history dating to the eighteenth century, life has not changed in Rigoet for two centuries, except for a brief period during World War II when this was the site of a Canadian Army Base. Local families such as the Blakes, Olivers, Groves and Shepards trace their arrival in Rigolet to before 1800, and are happy to tell visitors how their ancestors lived. Descendants of the southern Labrador Inuit, the world’s southern-most Inuit also live in Rigolet. The town is well-known for its ornate grass basketwork made from a special grass that grows in the area. Continuing up the coast, or “down” as it is said locally, we will visit Makkovik, which was settled in the early part of the 19th century by a Norwegian fur trader, Torsten Andersen, and his Labrador wife, Mary Thomas. By 1896, the settlement had grown enough for the Moravian Missions to build a church complex that was in use until 1948. Life here has not changed significantly through the centuries. The people still fish and hunt and carry on many aspects of their traditional culture. The retail outlet offers locally crafted duffle parkas, mittens and slippers, as well as bone jewelry, antler buttons and other fine examples of native arts. In this area and further north, we may encounter remains of the Dorset Culture, which occupied coastal lands 4000 years ago, as well as the Thule Eskimo, who arrived from the Arctic around 1300. At Hopedale we plan to visit the Moravian mission station, established in 1782. This National Historic Site comprises a store, a church, residences and small huts, among which are the oldest wooden frame buildings east of Quebec. With a mix of Inuit and European settlers, Hopedale was originally called Agvituk, or "place of the whales." We anticipate at least one remote overnight anchorage between Hopedale and Nain, our final destination on this voyage. En route, near Davis Inlet (Sango Bay – Natuashish), we have the opportunity to meet members of the Innu nation who are renowned for their arts and crafts. North of Davis Inlet, and near Nain, the coast is an intricate maze of islands, rocks, bays, and "tickles" – challenging to navigate, but beautiful. Here, the extreme heads of the bays may be fifty miles inland from the farthest-flung islets. Nain was established by Moravian missionaries in 1771, is the final stop for Labrador’s Coastal Mailboat, and is the largest community on the north coast, with over 1,000 people. We plan to visit Piulimatsivik (Inuktitut for "place where we keep the old things"), which houses a collection of Moravian and Inuit artifacts, including kayaks and other implements of the northern way of life. We should also have the opportunity to purchase soapstone carvings from local Inuit craftsmen who are justifiably famous for their work. We will anchor at Nain the night of Day 10. Day 11 (Voyage 4, Day 15) In the morning you will be free to explore Nain. Participants can catch the afternoon flight to Happy Valley Goose Bay, with connections to catch the evening flight south to St. John’s. Voyage 2 July 26 – Aug. 8, 2008 $5,200 CND (waitlist) Round Trip Nain to Northern Labrador & Torngat Mountains Voyage 3 Aug. 10-22, 2008 $5,200 CND (waitlist) Round Trip Nain to Northern Labrador & Torngat These voyages will begin and end in Nain. The following trip description is meant only as a guide of expected encounters. We may reach and/or stop at particular destinations mentioned in the description during either the north or southbound legs of the voyage. Day 1 Via St. John’s and/or Happy Valley-Goose Bay, participants will assemble independently in Nain. Get settled at our hotel, the famous Atsanik Lodge, after which you will have time to explore the community of Nain. (Refer to the description of Nain provided in the Voyages 1 & 4 itinerary). Arrive Nain and Participants can board the Wanderbird in the evening (after 6 PM), which will be docked at the town pier. Days 2-12 Participants will board the Wanderbird in the morning and we will be underway, following Labrador’s coast north. The coast beyond Nain is even more remote and more spectacular than the “populated” area to the south. There are no permanent settlements here, but it is home to abundant wildlife, including caribou and the occasional polar bear on land, as well as the host of whale and seabird populations found on Labrador’s south coast. This is, quite literally, the wildest scenery on the Atlantic coast of North America. It is a land of Arctic tundra and mountains of unimaginable grandeur, most notably the Kiglapait, Kaumajet and Torngat ranges. With the highest peaks rising over 5,000 feet, metamorphic mountains soar out of the Labrador Sea, while spectacular fjords knife inland, including one known as the Pearly Gates. We plan to land at Hebron on the shores of Kangershutsoak Bay, and will take time to explore the long-abandoned Moravian mission station, now a National Historic Site. Once one of the most northerly communities on the north Labrador coast, Hebron was constructed from 1829 to 1831, but the main buildings - church, mission house and store - were not inhabited until 1837. The station was abandoned in 1957. Our “furthest North” destination on this voyage is not known, as it will depend on the weather, sea conditions, and “exploration characteristics” of the participants, either on land or through possible fjord diversions along wild Labrador’s north coast. That said, we do expect to venture well north of awe-inspiring Saglek Fjord, which stretches many miles inland from the Labrador Sea, to Ramah, and well into the range of the majestic Torngat Mountains. Day 13 Today we return to Nain and disembark the Wanderbird. After check-in at the the Atsanik Lodge, participants will be free for further exploration of the community. Day 14 Participants depart on flights to Happy Valley Goose Bay, with connections south to St. John’s. Note: These itineraries should be read as a guide only, depending heavily on weather conditions, as well as other circumstances. Landing sites and destinations mentioned may not be achieved, should obstacles arise, including, but not limited to, weather and sea conditions, governmental and administrative orders, and agreed upon preferences of all participants. The trip price is based on double occupancy. Single supplement equals 1.8 times the share rate. Cost Includes: All voyage costs, with all meals aboard the Wanderbird, beginning with breakfast on Day 2 and ending with breakfast on day 11 or 13, as the case may be. Not Included: Airfare to/from St. Anthony or Nain, airport transfers, accommodations and meals in St. Anthony or Nain, museum and National Park fees, alcoholic beverages, and items of a personal nature.