NORD HUS
Nord Hus
Nord Hus is a Brent Swain designed, 36-foot, Bluewater sloop, customized for high-latitude sailing. Nord Hus’ robust steel hull, insulated with foam, can navigate icy waters while keeping crew warm in cold weather.
Nord Hus was fitted with a custom mast and is cutter rigged for harsh northern sailing. This design has worked well on several round-the-world ventures.
The stories of adventure from ‘The Age of Polar Exploration,’ when Peary, Amundsen, Nansen, and Shackelton made discoveries of the North and South Poles, Northwest Passage, and Greenland, opened my imagination to the far corners of our world.
Loving all things winter and knowing there were still discoveries left undone, I launched my Arctic career 35 years ago. One thing all these explorers had in common was that they used ships built for cold and ice to transport teams and supplies closer to their goals.
I’ve always donned this sentimental desire to go North in my ship, supporting and supplying my expeditions as they did 100-plus years ago. What does it feel like to start from your hometown? To feel the distance, the voyage, the connection to the sea and the cultures...
THE WHY
In April 2025, Nord Hus will begin its 6-month journey to explore the far reaches of North Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
The main outreach is to inspire us all to explore our curiosity. Concoct a crazy adventure – perhaps by a campfire or writing out a plan on a napkin at the pub. Then make it happen.
We encourage the adventurer in all of us. One does not need to be an accredited research scientist, elite mountaineer, or veteran explorer to live a great adventure and grow one’s awe and respect for our planet. Being in-tune with nature is the catalyst for protecting it.
THE VOYAGE
In April 2025, a 6,000 nautical miles sailboat voyage will begin from the little town of Grand Marais, Minnesota on the shores of Lake Superior. Nord Hus will sail via the Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence Seaway and enter the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Quebec. Nord Hus will serve as a support vessel for explorers, storytellers, filmmakers and the curious.
Beyond Quebec's North Shore, Nord Hus will sail to Newfoundland, and make passage across the Labrador Sea to Southwest Greenland. From there, to northwestern Greenland and Canada’s High Arctic.
RESEARCH & STORYTELLING
• Qitdlarssuaq: Investigating dwelling sites of the 1850 Inuit migrationfrom
Canada to Greenland.
• Old Friends: Dupre will return to visit Polar Inuit friends of Savissivik and Kullorsuaq in Northwest Greenland to share images of families he captured
24 years ago
• Sampling: from plant and animal to be tested for chemicals of emerging Arctic concern (CEACs), namely from the rare Peary Caribou and the Purple
Saxifrage plant.
• Depots: placing supplies in key remote locations to support a future
ski expedition in 2026.
THE CREW
There will be a rotating team of sailors, cinematographers, writers, and researchers. Stay tuned as the team continues to evolve!
P O L A R E X P L O R E R First circumnavigation of Greenland by kayak and dog team Explorers Club Fellow / Rolex Laureate
AR C T I C A D V E N T U R E R / M O U N TA I N E E R First All-Female Ascent of Mt. Lucania Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellow
In 2002-2003, aboard his polar sailboat Vagabond, Eric completed the first full circumnavigation of the Arctic through the North-East and North-West passages. Eric has been living and working in the polar regions for 30 years. Through summer cruises and a dozen overwinterings close to Inuit communities, collaborating with more than 60 scientific programs, he has remained faithful to his original project: providing a base camp for polar research.
Ted Gephart Is the father of two daughters, has been a professional mariner on the great Lakes since 1985. He started his career on the rivers of Western Alaska in the 1970s. Currently lives in Bayfield, WI
Ashe is a spirited sailor with a deep connection to the ocean and Great Lakes. It's the freedom of the open water and the best midnight stars that keep her hooked. Her sailing journey began with her Grandpa as a young girl, and grew while living aboard a friend's sailboat in Europe. Over the years, she’s gained offshore experience, including a Trans-Atlantic crossing and a Northbound Pacific crossing from New Zealand to Japan. Ashe recently participated in her first international race.
Hyland began sailing in high school in the Duluth racing scene. Since then, he has been striving to build a life filled with adventures—from sea to mountains. As a professional sailor, he has sailed over the world, crossed two oceans, and accumulated thousands of miles in between. He is the owner of the Superior Sail Loft, a sail loft in the Apostle Islands. In the winter, he spends most of his time exploring mountains in Alaska, armed with ice axes and a snowboard.
Ned has led numerous adventures in the mountains, the rivers, the oceans and the Antarctic. He began his career as a climber pursuing peaks and multi-pitch alpine rock climbs in the American West, Alaska, South America, Europe and the Karakoram. He expanded his experiences to sailing trips and worked with the US Antarctic Program guiding scientists to their research sites. For the last decade, he has turned to sailing where he recently captained an 8,000-mile trip from Seattle to Maine.
Mark and Katya, own the sail training company, Amicus Adventure Sailing and the sailing/climate education program, Sea Change Expeditions, integrating wilderness adventure with sustainability. Mark has been a licensed Captain for over 30 years and currently holds a US Coastguard 100 Ton Masters License with an Offshore Sailing Endorsement. He has sailed over 30,000 miles including an Atlantic crossing. Katya is a lifelong sailor and wilderness leader, author, and journalist.
Pat has about 15 years of leisurely sailing experience, the last 3 years in the Lake Ontario area. Pat is currently between boats and is looking forward to being on someone else’s ship. Pat’s most significant contribution to the St Lawrence River section of the trip will be to do the Plank so his long-time friend and crewmate Brian can bench press him a dozen times every morning.
Brian has adventured on motorcycles, bicycles, snowboards, and paddle boards. Never a boat, unless you count a cruise ship. He will rely on being told what to, how to do it, when to do it, and how many times. He assumes the lofty position of cabin boy on this trip.