80 degrees north

We pulled out of Bockfjorden in the evening and cruised north. It was exciting to leave the shelter of the fjord and head out into the open arctic ocean, with nothing between us and the north coast of Alaska but the north pole. The seas picked up considerably as we left the fjord, and although it was not rough by normal seafaring standards, I was a little worried about getting seasick, as I've spent a few fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico feeding the fish. The only solution of course, was to stand out on deck and take the fresh air. Once you're out on deck, you might as well have a sip of aquavit to ward off the chill. So, a small group of us stood out on the deck, getting our sea legs and telling lies late into the evening. We passed the 80th parallel at about 1.30 in the evening, to renewed celebration.

I never did get seasick the whole trip. It was never very rough, although our lab was in the forecastle, and it did get a bit rolly up there at times. Seasickness is a funny thing. I've been sick in 1 ft seas, but fine in 6 ft seas in a 17 foot boat.