On Top of the World:
 The 2008 North Pole And Solar Eclipse Voyage
 on the Nuclear Icebreaker I/B “Yamal”
2008 North Pole/Solar Eclipse Voyage.

Expedition-team.

Moscow highlights.

Yamal.

Franz Joseph Land.

Into the Arctic Ice.

On Top of the World.

Heading back.

Polar Bear Gallery.

Rubini and Tikhaya.

Solar Eclipse and Walruses.

Last days of the Voyage.

Arctic Video's.

Astrospace Home.

On Top of the World
The morning of the 28th and we had arrived at our desitination - the Geographical North Pole of the Earth! Viktor and Christine made their usual early morning wake up call and after breakfast Captain Lembrik and his bridge crew slowly guided the Yamal until it was over the GPS position for the North Pole on their first attempt! The passengers were called up to the bridge in preparation for this and once it was announced we were in position we celebrated with wine and a toast to the good captain for guiding us there. Unfortunately the ice was not thick enough for us to disembark so the Captain manoeuvred the Yamal just 950 metres until he had a firm and large enough area of ice in which to lodge the ship in position. Fortunately we were still close enough to technically see the ‘North Pole’ and on the scale of things no one was about to complain!
Once preparations were complete then the Expedition team and passengers took their place on the ice for the traditional dance around the top of the world! There was much taking of photographs towards the bow of the ship where it has giant teeth painted on it - a stunning view with a special ‘North Pole’ pole which we all could hold and have our picture taken. I took several items with me to photograph at the NP including a copy of the July 2008 Sky at Night magazine of which I’m the Reviews Editor, my own annual publication ‘Nightscenes 2008’ and BBC Radio Lincolnshires ‘I listen to Rodders’ bag! We had a BBQ on the ice with Mulled wine and Vodka all accompanied with piped music - I noticed a lot of ABBA!! 20 hardy souls SWAM in a small ice free area near the stern of the ship - brave or mad?! Those passengers who did swim didn’t stay in the water long! We had a wonderful Honeymoon couple with us for this trip, Markus and Michaela so Craig set up a special table just for them to have a romantic meal at the North Pole - ahhh!
Late that afternoon we had to board ship as the crew packed away all the BBQ tables etc and we made sure the ice was as clean as we could before the Yamal began the journey back southwards ending a great day.