Photo: Sweet Bay Photography
SWEDEN
Photo: Getty
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Top Proposed routes that Ella could take, depending on the conditions.
Bottom Home for the many months Ella will be at sea.
winner of the 2022 Golden Globe solo circumnavigation race, and has been picking the brains of Arctic specialists such as Bob Shepton and YouTuber Eric Aanderaa. ‘They think it’s slightly insane,’ she admits. ‘Everyone has been supportive but there’s the knowledge this hasn’t been done before.’ Ella points out her attempt is
only possible because of the climate emergency. ‘Some scientists are estimating the Arctic could be ice-free in summer as early as 2045, which means before I’m 50 we could sail from Scotland to China across the top of the world. The more accessible it becomes, the more traffic moves into the area and the more the problem escalates.’ For her the adventure – even the
record – is beside the point. ‘I don’t feel people are getting the knowledge about how intricately linked we are to the survival of the Arctic. If we let the ice continue to deplete at the current rate, not only will it be devastating for
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the Arctic environment and wildlife and inhabitants, but for us too. ‘This is very much about trying to raise
awareness of how much better we need to be doing. Obviously I’m inspired by previous Arctic sailing expeditions but it will be bittersweet to pull this off.’ A headache for Ella when we spoke
was not marine-related at all – securing permission to dock in Russia is not easy. If all goes to plan, she will return to the
Solent in October. The boat will be sold and its proceeds donated to the charities Polar Bears International and Ocean Conservancy. So does anything keep her awake in
the small hours? Only that ‘to-do’ list. ‘What keeps me motivated, though, is the thought of the day when the boat’s ready and the feeling of slipping lines.’ The climate needs more people like
Ella. We all do. To follow Ella’s progress and make a donation to the charities mentioned visit
ellainthearctic.co.uk
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