Highlights of 2023
A remarkable year at North Sailing
Our journey continues with yet another year full of inspiration and successful projects with a focus on exploration, education, marine protection and responsible whale watching.
Húsavík Whale Watching
Húsavík was the place to be in 2023, and we anticipate nothing less in 2024. Take a glimpse at the highlights:
![Playful humpback whale in Skjálfandi Bay. Playful humpback whale in Skjálfandi Bay.](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Playful-humpback-whale-Skjalfandi-bay-1024x683.jpg)
Amazing whale watching season in Húsavík
Húsavík has proven to be a must-visit destination for all nature lovers, with consistently great whale watching conditions throughout the entire season!
![Happy crew onboard. Happy crew onboard.](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Happy-crew-onboard-1024x683.jpg)
Colourful and passionate team
With a diverse group of skilled guides, experienced captains, shipyard workers, ticket centres, and office staff, we have formed a team with a shared passion for wildlife and the local environment.
![Birds eye view of Blue whale. Birds eye view of Blue whale.](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Blue-whale-from-drone-1024x683.jpg)
Blue whale party in Húsavík
In spring and early summer, we were lucky to encounter the mighty blue whale on over 100 tours in Skjálfandi Bay.
![North Sailing Ticket office North Sailing Ticket office](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/North-Sailing-Ticket-office-1024x681.jpg)
New facilities for staff and passengers in Húsavík
We opened a new dressing room and bathrooms for passengers and improved facilities for our staff at Húsavík harbour.
![North Sailing shipyard in Húsavík. North Sailing shipyard in Húsavík.](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Husavik-shipyard-Northsailing-1024x683.jpg)
Upgrades at Húsavík Shipyard
Húsavík Shipyard, where we maintain our fleet, is continuously getting improved with better facilities and machinery.
![Stefán, from North Sailing, and Birgir, from Garðar, signing the partnership agreement Stefán, from North Sailing, and Birgir, from Garðar, signing the partnership agreement](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/stefan-birgir-signing-agreement-1024x683.jpg)
Supporting the local rescue squad’s new boat
We signed a 3-year partnership agreement with the Húsavík rescue squad supporting their new rescue boat for increased safety in Skjálfandi Bay.
Árskógssandur Whale Watching
We had such a lovely start and a successful first season sailing from the village of Árskógssandur.
![Breaching humpback whale Árskógssandur Breaching humpback whale Árskógssandur](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Breaching-humpback-Arskogssandur.jpg)
Great start at Árskógssandur with 100% whale sightings
We moved to a new location in Eyjafjörður this year and had a lovely season with playful humpback whales.
Expeditions
Greenland expeditions, the Edge of the Arctic expeditions or Ocean Missions Hope Spot expeditions — you choose! Unforgettable voyages aboard our traditional sailboats rolled into a lifetime experience for all participants.
![Schooner Opal sailing Scoresby Sound Schooner Opal sailing Scoresby Sound](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schooner-Opal-sailing-Scoresby-Sound.jpg)
Greenland Extended
This new and longer exploration trip in Scoresby Sound with a crossing to Iceland left the lucky ones who joined, speechless after a positively challenging experience.
![The edge of the Arctic © THRAINN The edge of the Arctic © THRAINN](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-edge-of-the-Arctic_THRAINN-1024x683.jpg)
Smiles and sunshine on the Summer Solstice Expedition
We had extraordinary weather during our Summer Solstice Expedition to Grímsey Island. Endless sunny days filled with inspiring adventures.
![Asa Steinars Greenland expedition Asa Steinars Greenland expedition](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Asa-Steinars-Greenland-expedition-1024x683.jpg)
The first all-female expedition in Greenland with Ása Steinars
A fantastic group of female explorers joined North Sailing and Ása for an inspiring week with Ópal in Greenland.
![The lovely Húsavík, the whale watching capital of Iceland. The lovely Húsavík, the whale watching capital of Iceland.](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Husavik-whale-watching-capital-1024x683.jpg)
Bringing Hope to Húsavík and Skjálfandi Bay
We joined forces with Ocean Missions on the first Hope Expedition on board Schooner Ópal, celebrating the first Hope Spot in Iceland.
![Female sailing Reykjavik Female sailing Reykjavik](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Female-sailing-Reykjavik-1024x683.jpg)
All female sailing on Schooner Ópal in Reykjavík
This fall, our captain Sigga led a group of females around Faxaflói studying sailing onboard Schooner Ópal.
Research projects and sustainable tourism
North Sailing has always emphasized environmental protection and proudly partnered in research activities. And the year 2023 was no different!
![Oceanmissions team onboard. Oceanmissions team onboard.](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Oceanmissions-marine-protection-1024x683.jpg)
Marine Protection
We are proud to support the Skjálfandi Marine Protection Group and Ocean Missions which celebrated the first Hope Spot in Iceland this summer.
![Approaching fluke print Approaching fluke print](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/approaching-fluke-print-2-1024x683.jpg)
The E-whale research project
North Sailing is a part of this exciting new transnational research project using DNA sampling taken onboard our boats from the waters of Skjálfandi Bay.
![Schooner-Hildur Schooner Hildur](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Schooner-Hildur-1024x683.jpg)
Impressive improvements on Schooner Hildur
Our lovely Schooner Hildur got an improved saloon and a new propeller system, reducing the boat’s fuel consumption by 30%!
![Researchers Húsavík Researchers Húsavík](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Researchers-Husavik-1024x683.jpg)
Ongoing partnership with the Research Centre in Húsavík
We continue to host researchers onboard our boats and support a number of research projects in cooperation with the University of Iceland.
![Beach clean up Iceland Beach clean up Iceland](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Beach-clean-up-Iceland-1024x682.jpg)
Beach clean up projects
We continued cleaning beaches in North Iceland with Ocean Missions and also in Faxaflói with a joint project onboard Schooner Ópal.
![hildur-research-project ©Nick-Bondarev hildur-research-project ©Nick-Bondarev](https://www.northsailing.is/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/hildur-and-humpbacks-©-Nick-Bondarev-ve-velke-velikosti-1024x682.jpeg)
A successful research voyage on Schooner Hildur
We participated in a 3-week expedition with a group of researchers conducting research on bottlenose whales in the Dreki area northeast of Iceland.
Thank you for joining us in 2023
Thank you all for joining us in 2023 and creating beautiful memories together! We are looking forward to another year of great arctic wildlife adventures.