'The most fascinating thing was the immensity of the landscape'

摘要

When 251ft Yersin hit the water back in 2015, it marked a momentous shift in the world of expedition yachts. Not only had the boat, named after 19th-century physician and bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin, been designed to explore the globe, she had also been created to protect it as one of the world's only sustainable, clean and green vessels. Her vast autonomous range, Ice Class hull and sustainable credentials were well documented at the time but last year she finally got to flex her muscles on her debut adventure to the Arctic Circle. "I wanted to test the vessel," says Francois Fiat, who devised and owns Yersin. "She was conceived specifically for these regions." As tests go it was fairly extreme, with the yacht visiting Iceland and Greenland before crossing Baffin Bay and cruising down Baffin Island and on through Labrador, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. At her helm during the voyage was Captain Jean Dumarais who, having been involved in the yacht's construction, was equally keen to test her capabilities. "It was preparation for future trips over there," he explains. The crew are not on board for the glamour of the Med. They want to go exploring."