MISSION CONTROL

A SCIENTIFIC MISSION TO GREENLAND ON A 90FT SCHOONER WAS A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY FOR JULIEN GIRARDOT

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The streets of Brest are bustling early on this market morning. On the terrace of a bistro some late diners are still finishing off their night, while a nearby poissonnier yells at the top of his lungs about the freshness of his stock, his chest bulging. I wander among the stalls and stop in front of a small shellfish merchant. Two enormous crabs caught my eye. I'll take them, all 10 kilos. I'll need them to feed the crew I set sail with from Lorient yesterday.

With my arms full, I retrace my steps down the narrow streets back to the Marina du Château. The air is chilly, but the sun gives a touch of softness on this June morning.

Towering over all the other masts in the marina with her twin red arrows, the outrigged schooner Forel is moored, connected to the quay by the diesel pump which has been running for two hours. Refuelling the near-8,000 gallon diesel tank was the goal of this last, short stopover in Brest. Tonight we set sail for Greenland.

SHAKEDOWN SAIL

The Swiss Forel-Heritage Association bought the exploration schooner Paratii 2 from Brazilian adventurer Amir Klink two years previously. Once in Lorient it underwent an 18-month refit, transforming the 30m private yacht into a hi-tech research vessel. The yacht is renamed Forel to pay homage to François-Alphonse Forel (1841-1912), a Swiss pioneer and founding father of limnology, the science of studying lakes.

I joined the crew in May 2024 as they completed the final stages of the refit. I will have two roles: chef and photographer, feeding the sailors and scientists onboard, while also capturing and telling the story of this first adventure. For three weeks, I fill the boat's deep holds with stores, equip the refurbished galley and make sure we have everything we need to be self-sufficient.