Two years of drifting among glaciers…

[11 July 2006 - 00h00]

Tara is lifting anchor today. With six men on board, this 36-metre long, 10-metre wide schooner – once Sir Peter Blake’s - is leaving the submarine base, Lorient, and heading for the Arctic Ocean to drift for 2 years among glaciers, studying our planet.

More precisely, to study the ice field, the earth’s veritable thermal shield. “Ice thickness, depth, temperature, salinity… for the first time we will take specific measures to get a precise idea of its evolution”, explains Philippe Clais, Administrative Manager of Tara Arctic 2007-2008. The project is supported in particular by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

From September, Tara will therefore “allow itself to get caught up in the ice and to drift for two years. This is an extraordinary adventure. We don’t know where she will end her expedition, or even how she will behave in ice. Because ice moves all the time and can make her list by up to 20 degrees!”

Tara of course, has been designed to cope with polar extremities. But neither Jean-Louis Etienne nor Sir Peter Blake, who were her skippers when she was called Antarctica and Seamaster, were able to undertake this voyage. This will be the first time since … 1893 and the era of the ‘Fram’ that a crew allows itself to float on the ice field.

Human behaviour, also… An entire educational programme to “understand the issues relating to climate change” has developed in connection with this expedition. Using a bilingual (French-English) website accessible to teachers and students, as well as to the general public. Satellite maps, the boat’s drifting data, local weather conditions, webcams, the boat’s logs, description of scientific experiments conducted on the spot: people can follow the expedition in real time.

So, don’t delay. Visit the website today: http://www.taraexpeditions.org/. If only to get to know the six adventurers who are on board. They include sailors, of course, but also scientists and a doctor. For human behaviour (metabolism, stress and sleep) will also be studied closely. The environment looks set to be hostile. Apart from glacial temperatures, the six men will have to become accustomed to polar nights. A night which in fact lasts four months, from December to the end of February! Photo Françis Latreille/ADO

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