Sailing Polarisvideo
#73 | Arctic Winter Aboard: Northern Lights, Reindeer Races & Arctic Roads
April 12, 2025 · 24 min · 2K views · Tromsø
What this video covers
The crew of Polaris, currently wintering in the Norwegian Arctic, rents a car to navigate the Tromsø region and attend local events.Watch They visit the carbon-fiber catamaran MS Rygerdronningen for a Northern Lights cruise led by Captain Hanne Mellanstan.4:08 The vessel, built in 2018, features two 500-horsepower Volvo Penta engines and maintains a fuel-efficient cruising speed of 14 to 15 knots, consuming approximately 60 liters per hour.4:54 Captain Mellanstan notes that the boat is rated for a significant wave height of 1.5 meters, beyond which operations typically cease due to passenger comfort and safety.15:30 The crew also attends the Norwegian Championship in Reindeer Racing in Tromsø, an event held during the Sami National Day celebrations.19:54 Despite unseasonably warm temperatures melting local snow, organizers trucked in snow to construct a 201-meter track for the competition.20:21 The excursion highlights the logistical challenges of Arctic winter travel and the operational constraints of passenger vessels in exposed northern fjords.
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