You don’t want to run out of Marmite, butter or Guinness on board a yacht in a remote part of Greenland.

One piece of advice from a very elated Richard Darley, who sailed the 3,300 nautical mile trip by Danú of Galway to Greenland and back to the west coast with skipper Peter Owens.

A calm sea and a beautiful setting sun marked the yacht’s arrival at Parkmore pier on Thursday evening, with Kinvara musicians and many friends and family turning out to welcome the crew after a successful scientific, sailing and mountaineering expedition to the world’s largest and deepest fjord system in Greenland.

Among the welcoming party were Owens’ wife and accomplished sailor, Vera Quinlan, and the couple’s two children Ruairí and Lilian.

Peter Owens, his wife Vera Quinlan and two children, Lilian and Ruairí, along with family and friends celebrate the return of Danu at Parkmore Phone: Tony Maguire

The group of independent adventurers had recorded some new mountaineering achievements in the remote Scoresby Sound fjord system on Greenland’s eastern coast.

Kinvara musicians who play with Peter Owens, Danú of Galway skipper, welcoming the yacht at Parkmore pier Photo: Tony Maguire

They also took daily sea and freshwater samples to assess the extent of microplastics spreading into Arctic waters and affecting marine life as part of a research project with Trinity College, Dublin’s Centre for the Environment.

“Mesmerising” was how Owens, a University of Galway scientist, described the experience in the remote Greenland fjord system.

He was speaking en route from the Aran island of Inis Mór where he and his crew spent Wednesday night.

Danú of Galway had left Kilrush, Co Clare, bound for Iceland and then Greenland, in late June with Owens, Darley and Paddy Griffin, also from Kinvara, on board.

They were joined on the Iceland-Greenland leg by Paul Murphy from Carran, Co Clare and Dublin mountaineer Sean Marnane.

The Scoresby Sound expedition aimed to be self-sufficient in the Arctic, with a strict policy of “leave no trace” on the environment.

Owens has paid tribute to his crew, family and friends for their support, and to the expedition sponsors - the Gino Watkins Arctic Club awards, the Ocean Cruising Club challenge grant and Mountaineering Ireland.

Wavelengths spoke to Owens, who had his violin out, and his fellow sailors, and to Vera Quinlan, who recalled how it was just over two years since the Owens-Quinlan family berthed Danú of Galway at Parkmore after their own Atlantic adventure.

Irish yacht Danú of Galway received a musical welcome when it berthed in south Galway bay last evening after a successful scientific, sailing and mountaineering expedition to the world’s largest and deepest fjord system in Greenland.

Musicians who play regularly with Danú’s skipper, Peter Owens, in Kinvara were out at Parkmore pier as the 13m (43ft) steel ketch berthed at high tide after a 3,300 nautical mile round trip.

Local Kinvara musicians who play with Peter Owens, Danú of Galway skipper, welcoming the yacht at Parkmore pier Photo: Tony Maguire

The group of independent adventurers had recorded some new mountaineering achievements in the remote Scoresby Sound fjord system on Greenland’s eastern coast.

The vessel’s crew also took daily sea and freshwater samples to assess the extent of microplastics spreading into Arctic waters and affecting marine life as part of a research project with Trinity College, Dublin’s Centre for the Environment.

Irish yacht Danú of Galway returns to Kinvara Photo: Tony Maguire

“Mesmerising” was how Owens, a University of Galway scientist, described the experience in the remote Greenland fjord system.

He was speaking en route in from the Aran island of Inis Mór where he and his crew, Richard Darley from Lymington in England and sailor and mountaineer Richard Church, spent Wednesday night.

Danú of Galway had left Kilrush, Co Clare, bound for Iceland and then Greenland, in late June with Owens, Darley and Paddy Griffin, also from Kinvara, on board.

They were joined on the Iceland-Greenland leg by Paul Murphy from Carran, Co Clare and Dublin mountaineer Sean Marnane.

Murphy travelled over from Clare last evening, joining Owens’s wife Vera Quinlan and two children, Lilian and Ruairí, along with family and friends.

The Owens-Quinlan family are reunited at Parkmore Photo: Peter Owens

Just over two years ago, the Owens-Quinlan family had also berthed at Parkmore, after spending 14 months sailing, climbing and hiking around the Atlantic.

The Scoresby Sound expedition aimed to be self-sufficient in the Arctic, with a strict policy of “leave no trace” on the environment.

The crew experienced challenging weather during their passage north to Iceland with heavy Atlantic waves smashing one of the yacht’s windows en route, and they had to effect engine repairs in Husavik on Iceland’s north coast, which involved diving under the hull.

“We left Iceland for Turner island on the eastern coast of Greenland, and headed for the settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit where we got a rifle in case we needed it for polar bears”Owens said.

“When we sailed into Scoresby Sound, there was fog and we saw what looked like a bank of cloud ahead of us - but in fact it was pack ice,” Owens said.

Icelanders explained to the Irish crew that it was one of their most unsettled summers in 30 years.

“We spent the next few weeks in Scoresby Sound, visiting a series of remote anchorages and surveying each one around Milne land and Renland,”he said.

Owens and Sean Marnane, both experienced mountaineers, used kayaks to gain access to climbing routes.

They recorded a new route above the Skillebugt fjord anchorage on the south coast of Renland, and also reached the summit of Hermelintop, a 1172m-high peak with a commanding view of the confluence of three ice choked fjord systems.

Danú then circumnavigated Milne Land, where it encountered its last bit of concentrated ice which was “constantly cracking, forming changing and emitting big, loud bangs”, Owens recalled.

When the crew identified a weather window, they returned to the Ittoqqortoormiit settlement to leave back the rifle – which they didn’t have to use.

The crew achieved “everything we set out to do, in spite of the challenges en route “, Owens said.

Easterly winds slowed their return from Iceland, and they arrived off Inishbofin several days ago.

The fresh and sea water samples will be sent to TCD for analysis, and Owens expects results of any microplastic evidence could be available very soon.

Owens has paid tribute to his crew, family and friends for their support, and to the expedition sponsors - the Gino Watkins Arctic Club awards, the Ocean Cruising Club challenge grant and Mountaineering Ireland.

Irish yacht Danú of Galway is due home this evening, September 1st, after a highly successful trip to the world’s largest and deepest fjord system, Scoresby Sound in east Greenland.

The group of independent adventurers on board the 13m (43ft) steel ketch led by University of Galway scientist and mountaineer Peter Owens had set off in late June on a scientific and mountaineering expedition.

The yacht is due into Parkmore pier outside Kinvara at about 7 pm this evening, where it will be given a warm welcome by family and friends.

The Danú of Galway crew tested the extent of microplastics in northern waters, and also collected information on new anchorages which can be added to sailing guides.

Irish adventurers Paddy Griffin, Peter Owens and Richard Darley of Danú, are returning from Greenland

Owens and crew members Paddy Griffin, both from Kinvara, Co Galway, and English sailor Richard Darley, experienced challenging weather during their passage north to Iceland from Kilrush, Co Clare.

Heavy Atlantic waves smashed one of the yacht’s windows en route, and they had to effect temporary repairs.

The crew had to fix Danú’s engine in Husavik on Iceland’s north coast, and then spent time analysing daily ice charts sent from England to plan their passage further north.

Paul Murphy from Carran, Co Clare and Dublin mountaineer Sean Marnane joined the crew in Iceland.

“We took a chance and left for Turner island on the eastern coast of Greenland, which was very wild and remote,”Owens told Afloat several weeks ago, speaking from Iceland en route home.

“From there we headed for the settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit, formerly known as Scoresbysund or Sound, where we got a rifle in case we needed it for polar bears,”Owens said.

“Every day it was never above five degrees Celsius, though it didn’t snow, and when we sailed into Scoresby Sound there was fog and we saw what looked like a bank of cloud ahead of us - but in fact it was pack ice,” Owens said.

Icelanders had told him several weeks before that it was one of their most unsettled summers in 30 years.

The crew waited several days in Jameson Land, an eastern Greenland peninsula, for the ice to clear before venturing into Scoresby Sound.

They spent the next few weeks in this area, visiting a series of remote anchorages and surveying each one around Milne land and Renland.

Sea and fresh water samples were taken daily for assessment of microplastics, in a research link up with Trinity College, Dublin’s Centre for the Environment.

Owens and Sean Marnane, who are both experienced mountaineers, climbed in three different areas , adding a new 10 pitch route above the Skillebugt fjord anchorage on the south coast of Renland.

Danú then circumnavigated Milne Land, a large island within the fjord system. Owens and Marnane, who had the use of kayaks to gain access to the mountain routes, ascended to the summit of Hermelintop.

The 1172m-high peak ,which offers a panoramic view of the confluence of three ice choked fjord systems, involved ascending a spectacular and enormous gully which “went on for miles and terminated not far from the main summit”, Owens said.

The yacht was in its last bit of concentrated ice as it sailed around Milne Land. The ice was “constantly cracking, forming changing and emitting big, loud bangs”, he said.

“The pure expanse of the whole place was wonderful, and we could spend a lifetime exploring this region but given the time we had, we are happy with the outcomes,” Owens said.

The crew “worked very well through the highs and lows of Arctic travel”, Owens said.

“We did see other boats occasionally, but if you found yourself in trouble, there was nobody physically living there to help and no emergency services,”he said.

Owens is a mountaineer sailor with many years’ experience. He and his wife Vera Quinlan and two children Lilian and Ruairí spent 14 months sailing, climbing and hiking around the Atlantic several years ago.

The Scoresby Sound expedition aimed to be self-sufficient in the Arctic, with a strict policy of “leave no trace” on the environment,

The expedition was sponsored by the Gino Watkins Arctic Club awards,along with an Ocean Cruising Club challenge grant and support from Mountaineering Ireland.

Irish yacht Danú which set off on a scientific, sailing and mountaineering expedition to the Arctic last month has reported a highly successful trip to the world’s largest and deepest fjord system, Scoresby Sound in east Greenland.

The group of independent adventurers on board the 13m (43ft) steel ketch led by NUI Galway scientist and mountaineer Peter Owens has now reached Iceland on its return passage south and departs for Ireland early next week, weather permitting.

The crew took daily sea and freshwater samples to assess the extent of microplastics in northern waters, and also collected information on new anchorages, which can be added to sailing guides.

Owens and crew members Paddy Griffin, both from Kinvara, Co Galway, and English sailor Richard Darley, experienced challenging weather during their passage north to Iceland from Kilrush, Co Clare.

Irish adventurers Paddy Griffin, Peter Owens and Richard Darley of Danú, bound for Greenland

Heavy Atlantic waves smashed one of the yacht’s windows en route, and they had to effect temporary repairs.

The crew had to fix Danú’s engine in Husavik on Iceland’s north coast, and then spent time analysing daily ice charts sent from England to plan their passage further north. Paul Murphy from Carran, Co Clare and Dublin mountaineer Sean Marnane joined the crew in Iceland.

“We took a chance and left for Turner island on the eastern coast of Greenland, which was very wild and remote,” Owens said.

“From there we headed for the settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit, formerly known as Scoresbysund or Sound, where we got a rifle in case we needed it for polar bears,”Owens said.

“Every day it was never above five degrees Celsius, though it didn’t snow, and when we sailed into Scoresby Sound there was fog and we saw what looked like a bank of cloud ahead of us - but in fact it was pack ice,” Owens said.

Eielson glacier in Rype Fjord Photo: Paddy Griffin

Icelanders had told him several weeks before that it was one of their most unsettled summers in 30 years.

“We waited several days in Jameson Land, an eastern Greenland peninsula, for the ice to clear, we anchored in a very remote place, and we took another chance and sailed south, motoring along the edge of the ice – though for a while there was no lead, no openings, and a lot of running on engine only as there was very little wind,” he said.

“We had to go back, wait several more days, and then we found the whole system had changed, there was no ice and very large icebergs which came and went in Scoresby Sound,” Owens said.

“We spent the next few weeks in this area, visiting a series of remote anchorages and surveying each one around Milne land and Renland,” he said.

“We also took sea and freshwater samples for assessment of microplastics, in a research link up with Trinity College, Dublin’s Centre for the Environment,” he explained.

Owens and Sean Marnane tried three different areas for climbing, adding a new 10-pitch route above the Skillebugt fjord anchorage on the south coast of Renland. It often took hours of scrambling up scree rock to reach the base of routes, Owens said..

Danú then circumnavigated Milne Land, a large island within the fjord system. Owens and Marnane, who had the use of kayaks to gain access to the mountain routes, ascended to the summit of Hermelintop.

The 1172m-high peak, which offers a panoramic view of the confluence of three ice-choked fjord systems, involved ascending a spectacular and enormous gully that “went on for miles and terminated not far from the main summit”, Owens said.

Danú of Galway in Romer Fjord, its first anchorage in Greenland Photo: Paddy Griffin

The yacht was in its last bit of concentrated ice as it sailed around Milne Land. The ice was “constantly cracking, forming, changing and emitting big, loud bangs”, he said.

“It sounded like a rockfall in the Alps, so we would be climbing and would hear this loud bang, and I’d be waiting for something to fall on me – but it was just the icebergs,” Owens said.

“After that, we could see a weather window and thought it would be a good time to start heading back, so we returned to the Ittoqqortoormiit settlement to leave back the rifle – which we didn’t have to use,”he said.

“The pure expanse of the whole place was wonderful, and we could spend a lifetime exploring this region, but given the time we had, we are happy with the outcomes,” Owens said.

The crew “worked very well through the highs and lows of Arctic travel”, he said.

“We didn’t have a watermaker on boat, so we resupplied with freshwater from streams,” he said.

“We did see other boats occasionally, but if you found yourself in trouble, there was nobody physically living there to help and no emergency services,” he said.

“We didn’t get to wash for two-and-a-half weeks, and our first shower was in Ittoqqortoormiit,” he said.

“It took us two-and-a-half days to return from Scoresby Sound to Iceland, and two of our crew then flew home from Reyjkavik, as pre-arranged,” he said.

After another crew change, Danú is preparing to head further south to Ireland, and to Parkmore pier in Kinvara around the last week of August, weather permitting.

Owens is a mountaineer sailor with many years experience. He and his wife Vera Quinlan, and two children, Lilian and Ruairí spent 14 months sailing, climbing and hiking around the Atlantic several years ago.

The Scoresby Sound expedition aimed to be self-sufficient in the Arctic, with a strict policy of “leave no trace” on the environment,

Owens thanked the expedition sponsors, the Gino Watkins Arctic Club awards, the Ocean Cruising Club challenge grant and Mountaineering Ireland.

Danú of Galway in Skillebugt Fjord Photo: Paddy Griffin

An Irish yacht on a scientific, sailing and mountaineering expedition to the Arctic has reached Iceland en route to the world’s largest and deepest fjord system, Scoresby Sound in east Greenland.

The group of independent adventurers on board the 13m (43ft) steel ketch Danú is led by NUI Galway scientist and mountaineer Peter Owens.

The crew aim to research the extent of microplastics in northern waters, while also exploring the remote Arctic region.

The Scoresby Sound fjord area is currently inaccessible due to ice conditions, but the crew are receiving regularly updates from Iceland, which they reached several days ago.

Irish yacht Danú, which is bound for Greenland, berthed in Husavik, Iceland Photo: Paddy Griffin

The crew of Owens and Paddy Griffin, both from Kinvara, Co Galway, and English sailor Richard Darley, experienced challenging weather during their passage north to Iceland from Kilrush, Co Clare.

Heavy Atlantic waves smashed one of the yacht’s windows en route, and they had to effect temporary repairs.

“The wind changed out of nowhere, went up to gale force in seconds and a flailing rope took out the “doghouse” window in front of the steering position,” Owens said.

“The seas also ripped away one of our solar panels,” he said.

“Conditions were so heavy during the seven-and-a-half-day passage that we were rarely out of gales, and landed in Djuvipogur in Iceland in a force nine gale with four-metre seas,” Owens said.

The yacht berthed in Husavik on the north coast of Iceland, where several other vessels have been taking refuge. The crew have been working on engine repairs and will await favourable ice conditions before setting off for Greenland.

Owens said that Icelanders told him it was one of their most unsettled summers in 30 years.

The crew of Danú are gathering samples of salt and fresh water sources, which they are filtering to test for microplastic evidence in a scientific collaboration with Trinity College, Dublin’s Centre for the Environment.

“There is not much data for microplastic presence in Arctic waters, and we hope to improve global knowledge of this when the information is analysed,” Owens explained.

Joining the yacht in Iceland are Paul Murphy from Carran, Co Clare and Dublin mountaineer Sean Marnane.

Marnane aims to climb with Owens in Milne Land and Renland, a peninsula in eastern Greenland, around the remote Scoresby Sound landscape- extending over almost 300 km from northeast Greenland national park.

Owens, expedition leader is a mountaineer sailor with many years of experience. He and his wife Vera Quinlan and two children Lilian and Ruairí spent 14 months sailing, climbing and hiking around the Atlantic several years ago.

The Scoresby Sound expedition aims to be self-sufficient in the Arctic, with a strict policy of “leave no trace” on the environment. It has received funding from the Ocean Cruising Club and the Arctic Club in Britain.

In July 2022, the yacht ‘Danú of Galway’ will depart from Ireland for Scoresby Sound, East Greenland, the largest fjord in the world.

The team will comprise of a small group of independent adventurers aiming to sail to and climb in this remote landscape. On the way, they will sample for microplastics as part of a scientific collaboration with the Trinity College Dublin’s Centre for the Environment. They will monitor both salt and fresh water sources throughout their time in Scoresby Sound. This data will be used in improving global knowledge of microplastics in Arctic waters.

Danú in Henninsgsvaer, Lofoten Photo: Peter Owens

Ocean Cruising Club member Peter Owens, expedition leader is a mountaineer sailor with many years of experience. He has put together a strong team that aims to be self-sufficient in Arctic terrain, with a strict policy of ‘leave no trace’. A number of exploratory mountaineering objectives have been chosen on Milne Land and Renland, within reach of the coast, using the yacht as a floating base.

Expedition leader Peter Owens is a mountaineer sailor

The OCC has supported the Irish expedition with a grant towards the voyage costs.

Renland - south coast from bear island