Greenland · 19 July - 1 September 2027
Northwest Passage
Sail the Northwest Passage in Partnership with Quest Ocean Expeditions
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Overview
For several years, the Northwest Passage has been on Wavysail's horizon. Not as an ambition, exactly, more as a challenge. To run a true Arctic expedition through one of the world's great sea routes, you need the right vessel and the right skipper. Finding both, together, is harder than it sounds. That's why we're genuinely excited to be partnering with Quest Ocean Expeditions and Captain Göran Persson. Göran has spent over 40 years at sea and 11 years running expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica. His yacht, S/Y Quest, was purpose-built for these conditions. Importantly, when we got talking, we realised we share the same spirit for running small group, hands-on expeditions to the worlds most exciting destinations. Six places. Forty-five days. Nuuk to Nome. You join as active crew, watchkeeping, helming, sail handling, cooking. Every person aboard contributes to the passage. What matters is not a sailing background but the resilience, flexibility, and appetite for adventure this route genuinely demands. The Northwest Passage traces 3,400 nautical miles through some of the most storied waters in maritime history — Lancaster Sound, the gateway to the high Arctic; Franklin Strait, where HMS Erebus and Terror were lost in 1845; Victoria Strait, where ice still dictates every decision. Progress depends on conditions; flexibility is fundamental. The expedition will also be documented by polar filmmaker Alex Stone of Wild Films. Crew are invited to take part in interviews and help shape the narrative — to be not just part of the crossing, but part of the record of it.
Highlights
History Beneath Your Keel
very mile of this route carries centuries of ambition, tragedy, and triumph - follow the greatest explorers of our time
A unique experience
Incredible sights and experiences and one of only a handful of people that have traversed the Northwest Passage. We’ll build a sense of camaraderie and team that will last for life and of course, an incredible sense of achievement.
The Ice - up close
From Ilulissat's calving icebergs to Victoria Strait's shifting pack ice, the Arctic doesn't just frame this expedition — it shapes every decision aboard.
Skippers
Göran Persson
Göran Persson has been at sea since he was sixteen. In the decades since — through the Merchant Marine Academy, four decades as captain and chief officer on ships across every ocean, six Atlantic crossings on his own yachts, and eleven years running expeditions in the Arctic, Antarctica, and the South Pacific — he has built the kind of experience that doesn't come from courses or qualifications alone. It comes from time, miles, and decisions made in difficult conditions.
Hilda Christensson
First Mate and Historic Guide Hilda Christensson brings the route to life throughout a Yachtmaster with a historian's eye, her briefings connect the sailing to the wider story: Franklin's tragedy, Amundsen's triumph, and the enduring knowledge of Inuit communities whose relationship with these waters long predates any European chart.
Itinerary
Previous
Next
Nuuk, Greenland — approximately 2–3 days
The expedition begins in Greenland's capital, where steep fjords and Arctic tradition meet modern life. We use this time for final preparations, safety briefings, and settling into life aboard Quest before the passage north begins.
West Greenland Coast — approximately 4–5 days
Sailing north from Nuuk along Greenland's rugged western coastline, we make for Ilulissat and its extraordinary Icefjord — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where vast icebergs calve from one of the Northern Hemisphere's most active glacier fronts and drift into Disko Bay. Few sights on the entire passage match it.
Crossing to Lancaster Sound — approximately 4–5 days
Turning west across Davis Strait, we leave Greenland behind and set course for Lancaster Sound — the traditional gateway to the Northwest Passage. This open-water crossing marks the psychological shift from preparation to commitment.
Lancaster Sound — approximately 4–5 days
Lancaster Sound has been the entry point for Arctic expeditions since the earliest European attempts to find the passage — wide, ice-influenced, and vast, it sets the scale for everything that follows. Hilda's historical briefings begin in earnest here, placing the voyage in the context of the explorers who came before us.
Prince Regent Inlet — approximately 3–4 days
Sailing south into Prince Regent Inlet, the landscape tightens and the colours deepen — one of the most visually striking sections of the entire route. It is also deeply embedded in the history of Arctic exploration, a region that has drawn and defeated successive expeditions for two centuries.
Franklin Strait — approximately 3–4 days
These waters carry the greatest weight of any on the passage. This is where Sir John Franklin's 1845 expedition — 129 men, two Royal Navy ships — vanished without trace. To sail through Franklin Strait is to move through a place that shaped how the world understood the Arctic, and the limits of human ambition within it.
Victoria Strait — approximately 5–7 days
The most ice-dependent section of the passage, and the point where flexibility matters most. Progress here is dictated entirely by seasonal ice movement — we may move quickly, or we may wait. Either way, this is the heart of the Arctic, and time spent here is rarely wasted.
Amundsen Gulf — approximately 4–5 days
As we enter the Amundsen Gulf the waterways widen and the western Arctic opens up. Named after Roald Amundsen — who took three years to complete what we do in 45 days — this section carries a symbolic weight. The hardest miles are behind us. Nome is ahead.
Nome, Alaska — journey's end
The Pacific side of the Arctic. Nome was shaped by Inuit culture long before the Gold Rush brought the wider world to its shores, and that layered history is still present today. We arrive having crossed one of the last genuinely untamed sea routes on Earth — as a crew that made it happen together.
Nine stages feels right for 45 days — broad enough to
What's Included
What's Included
Safety equipment
Free loan of Foulies
All food and drink on board
bedding
What's Not Included
Travel to / from Nome and Nuuk
Visas
Shore based activities
Booking options
Single Berth
Three private cabins, each with two berths. There are two heads, and hot showers — comfort that is functional and quietly comfortable for an expedition yacht operating at the edge of the navigable world.
FROM$27,418.22 /pp
Gallery
You'll Be Staying Here
SV Quest
Quest is not a production yacht adapted for cold water. She was conceived and built from scratch by Göran Persson to do exactly what she does — sail in the world's most demanding environments. Her steel hull is welded to the same standard required of icebreakers, and she holds Swedish Maritime Authority approval for operations in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
Below decks, four inches of insulation, central heating, and underfloor heating mean warmth is never in question, whatever is happening above.
Below decks
Forty-five days in the Arctic demands a boat that is genuinely warm below, not just theoretically insulated. Quest is: four inches of insulation throughout, central heating, and underfloor heating keep life below comfortable and dry regardless of conditions on deck. Six crew berths are built for long-passage living rather than marina weekends — functional, considered, and warmer than you might expect from a yacht designed to operate where others turn back.
FAQs
Do I need to be experienced in sailing?
This is a challenging passage - you do need to be mobile and reasonably fit. You will have done some sailing and be comfortable on board a sailing yacht, but do not need to be an expert sailor. Just have a passion for adventure and the willingness to get involved.
Is it guaranteed that we complete the passage withing 45 days?
This is an attempt at the Northwest passage - it is a genuinely wild part of the planet and we will always respect the weather and conditions. Book flexible flights and understand this is not a cruise, it is an expedition.
How comfortable is the yacht?
The yacht is well insulated and was built especially for the high latitudes. You will have a cabin with 2 bunks - so you will be sharing with another guest-crew member (of the same sex).
The yacht is large and comfortable.
What is the partnership between Wavysail and Quest?
Quest Ocean Expeditions run the expedition. Captain Göran Persson commands S/Y Quest, plans the route, and is responsible for everything that happens on the water. That is entirely his domain.
Wavysail's role is to support the trip, which includes handling bookings, payments, crew onboarding, and providing dedicated shore support throughout the voyage. In practice, that means you'll have close contact with the Wavysail team from the moment you enquire through to the day you step ashore in Nome.
Your contract is with Quest Ocean Expeditions as the expedition operator. Wavysail act as their booking and operations partner.
How much sailing should I do beforehand?
While no prior sailing experience is required, we do recommend that you try sailing at least once before joining Quest. Life at sea is very different from life on land: for 45 days we will be navigating one of the harshest routes in the world, on a vessel that is always in motion. Experiencing even a short sail beforehand will give you a sense of what to expect and help ensure you are ready — both physically and mentally. There are several Wavysail trips you could do which would make great preparation - speak to us!
What is life like onboard - what to expect?
On board Quest, everyone contributes to the smooth running of the vessel:
Watchkeeping – Standing watch is at the heart of life at sea. You will join the rotation, taking turns on deck to steer the yacht, keep lookout, and monitor instruments. This is where you gain experience to read the sea, the ice, and the sky — skills that connect you to sailors across centuries.
Sailing and Seamanship – From hoisting sails to trimming lines, you will help to handle the yacht in all conditions. Whether it’s in calm fjords or icy Arctic winds, your hands-on involvement is vital.
Navigation – Be a part of how we plan our course, chart our position, and adapt to the ever-changing Arctic environment. You will gain an insider’s view into how real expedition sailing is done.
Cooking and Cleaning – Meals are prepared together, and everyone helps keep the galley and ship tidy. Sharing these everyday tasks builds camaraderie and ensures that life on board runs smoothly.