Ocean Village in Gibraltar recently had an unusual vessel tie up when Arctic explorer Gilles Elkaim arrived aboard his aluminum expedition vesselArktika on the way to La Rochelle, France, to winter over. Base camp for Elkaim is usually about 185 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, where he breeds endangered species of sled dogs and runs a camp that teaches survival skills to a half-dozen visitors at a time. Elkaim’s adventures have included sailing round Australia, trail walking across New Zealand, climbing mountain peaks in Papua New Guinea, cycling across India and camel riding through Mongolia. But Elkaim is best known for a four-year, 7,500-mile solo dog sled and kayak trip from Norway’s North Cape across the Bering Strait and Eurasian Arctic.
Elkaim has spent six months refitting the 47-foot Voyager-built boat Arktika, which will add a new dimension to his Arctic exploration offerings. Now visitors can sign up for sailing tours of up to a fortnight with four or five people and a small team of huskies on board. www.camp-arktika.org
More of the Gilles Elkaim story...
http://www.camp-arktika.org/article-126-croisieres-explorations-en-arctique
Why a boat?
Territories wild are still the best . Because of their remoteness from civilized areas of difficult access, they kept their pristine beauty where landscapes, fauna, flora, and (more rarely) Indigenous peoples have still not been disturbed by the omnipresence of man. How to reach them? if not by logistics and low cost environmentally friendly such snowmobile, airplane, helicopter, ship touring that go against the harmonythat we, explorers and travelers trying to establish with the environment.In the High Arctic, communication channels, and therefore the logistics are mainly maritime . In summer, the lands discovered by the snow are swampy, too steep or barred river impassable. In winter, the ice provides a surface acceptable for travel by sled. So by the sea, boat and sleigh , I chose to continue my explorations.
The dog sledding is my specialty. For over ten years, I raised my dogs and conducted special on the vast territories of the Far North. The expedition Arktika me across a continent (Eurasia) in its entirety, from the Atlantic to the Pacific halfway around the world four years and 12 solo 000km north of the Arctic Circle.Following on from this long and rich experience, balancing the boat dog sledding, I wanted to gain independence (almost) complete, autonomy (almost) perfect in the Arctic. My idea was therefore to adapt and equip a solid ship navigation in ice, shelter dog sled and independent living in extreme conditions to make it a platform for polar exploration as summer qu'hivernale.
The concept
The boat "ARKTIKA" is somehow an extension of CAMP ARKTIKA, sled dog camp located in Finland, whose originality is to propose raids committed by dog-oriented learning of wildlife in the North companions with exceptional Siberian huskies primitive (Nenets and Taimyr Laika).
This global approach to the polar environment demand at a time, a physical commitment because we do not support motorized, some mental strength because you have to accept the hazards associated with the real adventure and finally philosophy to understand the why the first two points and grasp the meaning of things in Nature. On this last point, our dogs, well trained and extremely affectionate, are the best guides. So it is with them that we intend to explore the shores of the polar seas.
The boat
Under sail ARKTIKA is a b ateau Shipping designed to sail, live and overwinter in a stand-alone in the Arctic, by hosting six people on board and 10 sled dogs. Its strength, its shallow draft (1m) and autonomy allow it to consider the most advanced programs of Arctic exploration.ARKTIKA is a boat-like Voyager 47 '14.30 m constructed of aluminum by the yard META in Tarare (France).
Wetting MéditéranéeIts main characteristics are:strength : thick aluminum shell, process Strongall (12mm thick at the edges)
Reliability : 2 engines 2 x Nanni 62 HP, 2001, 1400 hours of operation
economy : 1l/mile cruising at 7 knots with sails of support.
Autonomy : 6000 nautical miles at 7 knots or two winters (6300l gas oil)
energy independence : two wind turbines, solar panels 4, 12 gel batteries
Safety : draft of 1 m, boat runs aground
comfort heating, insulation, inner wheelhouse, kitchen and bathroom
"ARKTIKA" is registered in Finland. It is approved in an era category, for 6 people.
The crew
Our crew is human-canine.
Gilles Elkaim , half man, half-dog is the commander on board.He is an explorer and Yachtmaster (Anglo-Saxon version of Captain 200).
It introduces you to the adaptation to the North.
Loret governed , more human than dog, is the skipper.Owner-skipper patented state (BEES sailing) and Merchant Shipping (Masters 200, PPV, CAPA, PPN). He puts his 30 years of experience in the sea to our boat and you know its instills great sailor.
Guy Bush , 100% man, skipper.Patented Merchant Shipping (Patron Yacht PPV, PPN, PCMM 250kW, CRO).
In addition, kayaker and photographer
Pouchok , half-dog half-man, the lead dog to retire from my shipping Arktika.Excellent self-taught.
He sends all his wisdom canine.
Kotch , 100% dog, while fat and muscle, the pet dog (not graduate!) Camp Arktika.It amuses you and you cuddle.
Et .. you who dream of participating in a hell of a voluntary approach that respects and integrates the polar nature.The platform for exploration
ARKTIKA offers cruises in small group (3-4 participants) as part of responsible tourism focused on the exploration of polar regions. We maintain the philosophy of Camp Arktika based on the discovery and learning about wildlife in the North except that the base camp becomes a boat around which we radiate in a sea kayak, on foot, on skis or dogsled. No need to be a sailor, our boat is there to ensure our logistics and our accommodation for the return of excursions or raids. (See 2012 cruise program below)ARKTIKA is a platform for exploration safe and comfortable to carry various scientific studies on the environment (marine or terrestrial) in the most inaccessible areas and under the most extreme climatic conditions of the Arctic.
ARKTIKA provides logistical support reliable and inexpensive for missions and expeditions summer or winter. In winter, our dog sledding take over for travel on the ice. It should be emphasized that, unlike a snowmobile, dog sled, led with experience progresses smoothly through the chaos of ice and ice fragile. It starts in the lowest temperatures and never falls down. It carries 400 kg of material (twice a snowmobile cutter). It is certainly slower, but it is environmentally friendly. Also dogs warn of the visit of the polar bear and give us all their affection.ARKTIKA prepare in the near future, the great expeditions started only a few extreme participants for a program or a la carte.
The cruise program ARKTIKA - 2012 First season!
Spitsbergen , north-western exploration, trekking and sea kayaking from 16/06 to 28/06, from 30/06 to 12/07, from 14/07 to 26/07
East Greenland , Adventure at the end of the stem, from 11/08 to 23/08, from 25/08 to 06/09, from 08/09 to 20/09
Lofoten , Northern Lights and Orcas, the 06/10 to 13/10, the 13/10 to 20/10
Spitsbergen to East Greenland, from 28/07 to 09/08
The East Greenland via the Lofoten Jan Mayen , from 22/09 to 04/10
Download below the detailed program brochure.
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"ARKTIKA" is an expedition ship designed to navigate the polar seas, live independently and to winter in the Arctic, by hosting six people on board and 10 sled dogs.
ARKTIKA is a boat-like Voyager 47 '14.30 m constructed of aluminum by the yard META in Tarare (France).
Its main characteristics are:
thick aluminum shell, process Strongall (12mm thick at the edges)
Two reliable engines (2 x Nanni 62 HP, 2001, 1400 h)
economical cruising speed: 1 l / mile sail at 7 knots with support.
autonomy of 6000 nautical miles at 7 knots (6300l gas oil)
Energy independence: two wind turbines, solar panels 4, 12 gel batteries
Its shallow draft of 1.00 m
Comfort heating, insulation, inner wheelhouse, kitchen and bathroom
The Voyager 47 'was designed to safely navigate in the Arctic and across the oceans. A complete refit of the boat is made in 2011.
ARKTIKA "is registered in Finland and is registered in the first category, for 6 people.
In 1984, during its maiden voyage, Voyager 47 'has made the crossing Lyon-New York round trip without refueling. ARKTIKA is the sister ship of the vessel
Under sail
Lifting the boat
for transport to the site complete refit
2 62cv Nanni engines, cylinder 5, 2001, 1400h
wheelhouse and saloon than 
the passageway and the two superimposed berth
starboard cabin
Kitchen
The forward cabin
It's bathroom with hip bath
Plan outside
of the Plan withinSpecificationsType: Voyager 47 '
Builder: Meta, Tarare, France
Architect: Michel Joubert and Nivelt
Year: 1984
Dimensions: 14.30 x 4.44 m m
Draft: 1m, boat runs aground
Material: Aluminum Strongall type (bottom 15mm, 12mm shell , Bridge 10mm)
Steering system: double rudders protected crapaudine
Displacement: 19 t charge
Engines: 2 x Nanni 62 HP - 1400 hours, 2001
Trees oil bath method Meta
Cooling: indirect
Propellers: 3 blades Radice 500 mm
Gas oil tank: 6300 l total
Cruising Speed: 7 knots
Consumption: 1 l / mile at 7 knots
Water tank: 1200 l
Mat: Alu 8.20 m
Mainsail, furling genoa, staysail furling
Windlass: Lofran Falcon 1500W
Manual windlass Rear Goiot
swim platform
Alu Hard top
Tent cockpit
Anchors: Brake 40 kg, 25 kg CQR, + 1 spare - 100m of chain 12 mm
20mm plexy windows 18 + 8 panels with vents Goiot
Isolation : 65 mm foam
heating and forced air heaters
Pumps: Electric 3
Cabins: 1 double, 1 Single
Beds: 5-9
Gas cooker: 2 burner + oven
Fridge, freezer
Bathroom: small bath with shower and
water heater: 75l
WC: 2 (1 electric)
GPS: Magellan
Radar: Furuno
VHF: Navicom RT 650
HF SSB Radio: Sony
Loch - 2 pollsters Digipack
Pilot: Autohelm + 1 spare
Compass: Silva
Navtex
Batteries: 12 x Frost Odyssey 215A / h
Wind : 2 x Eclectic Energy D400
Solar Panels: 80 W x 4
Appendix: 2.50 m with 2.2 hp Suzuki motor
Survival 6 people
Bon Voyage !
