SPONSORS

Expeditioning in the extremes is demanding, not only on the boat but also on all the gear and equipment we use to bring each expedition to a successful conclusion. Some of this equipment is in general use, some specific to each expedition, but the sole criteria for keeping it aboard is that it MUST be reliable enough to work, year in year out, even under conditions that are harsher or perhaps different than that which it was designed for, with minimal maintenance. This is of course an impossible dream, but we have amassed a set of equipment over the years, which enables us to confidently extend our range and comfort zone, even when working in the hard-scrabble locations we frequent.

All the companies listed below, have been aboard Northanger, some for a number of years now and some have been with us since we began our expeditioning. They all have something in common. Exceptional gear.

Global Marine Net

Luis Soltero from Global Marine Networks has been supporting us for years. His company offers a number of different services. "GMN provides compressed satellite email, weather, vessel tracking services, and blogging." Luis has always been there for technical support, an email or telephone call away. He has patiently put up with our complete and total technical ignorance with anything computer related, taking time to talk us through all of our questions. Thanks Luis!

SkyEye

Jonathon Selby's weatherfax program, Xaxero, has aided in our navigation from Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic to the Southern Ocean. In 2003, we added Chris and Jonathon's SkyEye satellite receiver antenna to Northanger's toolbox and this, combined with GMN's grib-file service, give us what we figure to be the best available on-board weather forecasting facility. We are now used to crossing the Drake Passage up to six times a year and this powerful system has already saved us plenty of grief.

Helly Hansen Canada

Helly Hansen Canada came aboard in 2006 with their well thought-out and superbly constructed floater suits. When we are in Antarctica, we live in these suits, both for their warmth and for their safety factor, especially when operating the dinghy between the boat and shore. With this suit hanging in the entrance-way we can go from pyjamas to full-on arctic conditions kit, ready for anything, in a few seconds. We have tried a number of floater suits, and these so far are honestly the best ones yet.

Ampair

Ampair first came aboard Northanger for the Otto Sverdrup Centennial Expedition. We had the Ampair 100 wind generator providing power during our wintering in Hourglass Bay on Ellesmere Island. The generator never failed to give smooth, quiet power even during temperatures down to - 43 degrees Celsius and winds exceeding 60 knots. Ampair continues to support us and this season has sent us an updated wind generator of the same size, which will be sailing with us to Antarctica and on to South Georgia. We strongly feel that non - fossil fuel energy is essential both for operating in the fragile ecosystems that we visit and for contributing our small part to minimizing our environmental impact in general.

Polaris Inflatable Boats

We have had a Polaris Inflatable boat since 1995, which we used for landing the climbers on Smith Island for their successful first ascent of Mount Foster. We acquired a second Polaris boat while we were in the Arctic, a smaller hard bottom version. Now we have a new Polaris boat, which is just as fantastic as the last two if not better. The new boat is the envy of the yachting fraternity down here in the Southern Ocean. And so it should be - it is one tough boat!

Ushuaia Logistics

If anyone needs any logistical support in the Ushuaia and surrounding area, Roxana Diaz is the one to contact. She is very good at her job and can make finding things or getting things accomplished in the Ushuaia area stress free. Thanks Roxana for your continuing support of Northanger. Ushuaia Logistics - Comprehensive Yacht and Expedition Services. Ground Handling & general logistics support for Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego

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