Sailing Polarisvideo
Sailing 550 Miles Home from the High Arctic
15 March 2026 · 24 min · 3K views · Isfjorden, Spitsbergen
Crew refuels sailboat at golden hour on calm sea
What this video covers
A 550-nautical-mile passage from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to Tromsø, Norway, requires careful fuel management and weather routing to navigate the high Arctic. Departing with 530 liters of diesel, the crew of the sailboat Polaris maintains a consumption rate of approximately 4.2 liters per hour while motoring at 1750 RPM.5:13 During the transit, the crew encounters wind speeds ranging from calm to 30-knot gusts, necessitating the use of two reefs in the mainsail.10:09 The vessel passes west of Bjørnøya, utilizing a favorable tidal gate to maintain speed during the final approach.20:03 Throughout the journey, the crew balances motor-sailing and pure sailing to optimize fuel reserves and ETA, ultimately completing the trip in approximately 33 days of total travel time. Precise fuel calculations and monitoring of wind forecasts allow the crew to maintain a steady pace despite variable conditions.
More from Sailing Polaris
From Sailing Polaris — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.