Ella is about to attempt what most of us can barely imagine: a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle. But this isn’t just a story of extreme sailing – it’s a journey powered by preparation and passion.
In this interview, Ella shares her path from learning to sail as a kid on a lake in Ipswich to preparing for polar bear encounters and dealing with total steerage failure in the Barents Sea. She’s not just chasing a world-first; she’s shining a light on the Arctic’s fragile future and the urgent need for climate action.
Once Ella sets sail, her route will be available for tracking through a live app, and we’ll make sure our readers can access this to follow her extraordinary journey. Get ready to be inspired, entertained, and maybe even rethink how a simple cup of hot chocolate can fuel big dreams.
Where Did It All Begin?
You’re about to tackle a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle – a feat most of us can barely imagine! Was there a defining moment that sparked this wild, audacious goal?
I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint one exact moment – the idea grew bit by bit. I’ve always been fascinated by the Arctic, and the more involved I got with sailing, the more I started imagining sailing as a way of seeing the Arctic. So, I started looking into the possibility of completing the infamous Northwest Passage. That led me to learn more and more about Arctic weather and sea ice, and the incredible sea ice decline we’re currently witnessing. When I started to realize just how unaware I was of the effects of climate change in the Arctic, I knew I wanted to showcase it and highlight it to as many people as possible. That’s where the circumnavigation campaign started from.
Sailing Roots
Your background in sailing must be incredible. How did it all start? Was there a moment on the water that made you feel ready to take on the Arctic solo?
I remember starting out in small dinghies on a lake in Ipswich as a young child – mostly, I think, as a way for my parents to keep me occupied during school holidays. When we moved to France, I was about 8 or 9 years old, and shortly after moving there, Dad purchased a Moody. We used to sail the Mediterranean during school holidays as a family, with my mum and my brother. Dad sold the boat when I was barely a teenager, and I didn’t really get back into sailing until I was in my 20s. At 24, I did my Yachtmaster Offshore and my Cruising Instructor licenses, and at 25, I became one of the RYA’s youngest-ever female Yachtmaster Instructors. Teaching has been a wonderful career change for me, and I’ve done that full-time for the last three years, stopping only in April 2024 to take Yeva off on our training sails over the summer.
Defining the Mission
This expedition is about more than records. If there’s one takeaway or impact you’d like this journey to have, what would it be?
Absolutely, and if anything, it’s going to be an incredibly bittersweet record to set. If I achieve my goal of the first-ever single-handed circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle, it will be a testament to how quickly we are losing such a wonderful yet fragile part of our planet. Whether you feel it or not at home, we are intricately linked to the Arctic and its survival, and the repercussions of losing summer sea ice will be felt around the world. If there’s one thing I would like people to take away from this, it would be for them to feel closer and more tied to the Arctic, such that they look at their day-to-day lives and make more climate-aware choices in their habits to help preserve the future of the Arctic Ocean.
Preparation Challenges
What have been the most surprising (and maybe even bizarre) challenges in getting ready for this expedition? Anything you didn’t expect?
I don’t know that I have found any “surprises” as such in the challenges of getting ready, but there certainly have been a large number of challenges to face. The most obvious, perhaps, being raising the necessary sponsorships and funding – a feat that took over three years to achieve. I am profoundly grateful for my partners at Capital.com and each and every sponsor that has come aboard this project with me, but it took a lot of convincing and perseverance! The extent of my own training for this challenge has also been greater than I originally anticipated – going so far as to learn how to place a cannula in my own vein and do my own stitches should I be injured out of reach of help. There are challenges both physical and mental, financial and political, to overcome with an expedition of this geographical scale. But so far, hard work and asking politely have definitely paid off, and I’ve received tremendous support throughout, which I am very thankful for!
Endorsement from the Scientific Exploration Society
The support from the Scientific Exploration Society is huge! How has their endorsement helped shape your goals or preparation? Any standout advice or support from their team?
Yes, the SES has been a wonderful support! They’ve helped me bring a scientific purpose into the campaign, which I always wanted to include. I’m going to be doing microplastics sampling and depth sounding the seabeds as we go, which I’m super excited about. I look forward to helping us better understand what’s happening in the remote corners of the Arctic that so few people traverse. The SES also has a wealth of knowledge spread across its members, and it’s wonderful to tap into that resource, as well as to learn about so many other incredible expeditions, explorers, and adventurers across the globe, all raising awareness and inspiring in their own fields. I’m very proud to be endorsed by them!
Mentally Preparing for the Arctic’s Isolation
We’re curious: what’s your mental game plan? Any strategies to stay focused, motivated, or even calm in the face of endless solitude and ice?
I’ve always been quite good in my own company and found this year in my training sails that I was able to stay calm even when things went wrong – like total steerage failure of the boat in the middle of the Barents Sea. The key to that is preparation – knowing that you have a backup for every system and knowing how to use them, like my Hydrovane, which became my emergency tiller for the two days it took me to get Yeva into Longyearbyen after the steerage failed. There’s almost always something to do on board – cooking, tidying up, checking the deck and the rigging, adjusting sails as needed, and, any moment you can, getting a 20-minute sleep. When there’s ice around, I’ll be on lookout and high alert, which in itself is mental stimulation. I think, if anything, the bigger challenge will be achieving enough rest rather than getting bored or concerned with my own solitude.
What’s on the Menu?
Expeditions like these must take “meal prep” to a new level! What’s your meal plan for the Arctic, and what’s one comfort food you’ve packed to lift your spirits on tough days?
Unfortunately, nothing very exciting! Predominantly pastas and freeze-dried rations, with vitamin supplements, lots of dried fruits and nuts, and the necessary sweet treat/chocolate to perk me up when needed. I also don’t drink tea or coffee, so I’ll mainly be consuming water and hot chocolate when cold. Hot chocolate is definitely a guilty pleasure/comfort of mine, and I’ve actually partnered with the Adventurer’s Drinks Company to produce our very own hot choccy, which is delicious!
Climate Change and Plastic Pollution
How will you be sharing what you see out there in terms of climate change and plastic pollution? Are there specific ways you plan to document or make these issues real for people?
All of the data I’ll be collecting on microplastics will be given to the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton for their research and for them to share, but the expedition itself is all being filmed, through cameras both fixed and handheld on board. Ocean Films Ltd and I hope to be able to create a meaningful documentary showcasing everything I come across, that we can hopefully get on a distribution platform when I’m finished so we can target as large an audience as possible. I also document as much as I can on my social media pages and YouTube, but I won’t always have access to Internet next year, which is why the documentary will be a large part of it.
Tech Gear Essentials
Beyond the basics, what’s the one piece of tech gear you’re most excited about (or maybe can’t live without) on this journey?
I think the sail generator from Eclectic Energy is one of my favorite bits of kit from this summer, generating enough power when towed behind Yeva under sail to allow me to keep the fridge, RADAR, navigational equipment, and basically anything else fully charged. I’m looking forward next year to getting to use the water maker more, too, as I didn’t need it much this summer since I was in port often, but that’s going to play a huge role in enabling me to keep moving next year instead of having to pull into harbor.
Dream Documentary Moments with Ocean Films Ltd
Ocean Films Ltd is documenting this adventure – if you could choose a single moment to capture for the world to see, what would it be?
Gosh, good question! I don’t know that I can answer that before I’ve done the trip! But I think for me personally, the day I slip lines from Haslar Marina in Portsmouth would be a wonderful moment to show people. On that day, the outcome of the circumnavigation attempt doesn’t matter. On that day, I’ll have proven to everyone who has supported me, as well as everyone who has doubted me, that when you work hard, persevere, trust your gut, and put your heart and soul into something, you can do it. Any sailor who has run a campaign knows that getting to the start line is often the hardest part of it all, and once I’ve gotten there, I can be proud of myself no matter the outcome.
Training for the Arctic’s Physical Demands
What’s your physical training regimen like? Have you taken up any unique activities to prepare for the intensity of Arctic sailing?
Well, I’ve spent the whole summer at sea, but now that Yeva is ashore for works, I’m keeping my fitness up by jogging, going to the gym, and working with a chiropractor to iron out a few niggles here and there, as well as to come up with a set of activities I’ll be able to continue on board. I haven’t taken up cold plunges or ice baths, though, if that’s what you mean!
Wild What-If Scenarios
Let’s talk contingencies: have you prepped for some of the more extreme “what-if” scenarios? (e.g., tech failure, severe weather, surprise wildlife encounters?)
Absolutely – a lot of the preparation is planning for the worst and then making sure it doesn’t happen. Now, I can’t control the weather or the wildlife, but I can make sure Yeva and I are as ready as possible for any scenario. There is a very large amount of spares on board – we’ve turned the whole bow cabin into shelving and storage to accommodate it all. I carry a spare for each sail and two storm jibs, as well as a sea anchor and over 200 meters of warp to tow if needed. I’ll be heading out into the English Channel in the spring to fine-tune my heavy weather tactics once Yeva’s had some shipyard time pre-Christmas. As for the wildlife, the plan is very much to only admire it from a very safe distance. If I have to drop anchor, I will have to maintain vigilance and keep lookout for potential polar bears, but the chances of an encounter while constantly moving are greatly reduced. I will be carrying additional flares to use as scare tactics also.
Dream Support Crew
If you could bring along any three people (from history, fiction, or real life) to keep you company for part of the trip, who would they be and why?
Kristen Neuschäfer is a huge inspiration of mine and a remarkable woman, so I’d definitely invite her! I would take my late grandfather with me for part of it if I could. He was a big sailor and adventurer and sadly passed before I bought Yeva, but I know he’d be so proud of me. I actually have his photograph on the wall next to my inside helm station, so I often already feel like he’s there with me. And thirdly, I’d take a musician, although it’d be so hard to choose one absolute favorite to invite. I love music, although I don’t have a single musical bone in my body! It would be lovely to listen to the saxophone or a guitar being gently strummed on those long ice-filled watches.
Follow Ella’s Adventure
How can the rest of us follow along? And what role do you envision for the public in supporting your mission and spreading awareness?
Everything I do is documented and shared on YouTube and my social media pages under the name Ella In The Arctic, so feel free to follow along on there! I have a website by the same name also. I’d love it if the public watching would open conversations with their friends and family about the climate, about sustainable choices they can make in their day-to-day lives, and educate young ones about the challenges we’re seeing and facing. I’d also love it if anyone wants to reach out to me personally – I’m always happy to come to schools, clubs, yacht clubs, events, etc., to give a talk and Q&A. Lastly, if anyone fancies donating to the charities I’m supporting, please do, as every little helps! I’ve chosen Polar Bears International and Ocean Conservancy.
Looking Forward
Once you’re back from this epic journey, what’s next? Do you already have ideas brewing for the next big adventure?
Well, at the end of this, I am auctioning Yeva and donating all of the proceeds from her sale to Polar Bears International and Ocean Conservancy. After that, I’ll be homeless, boatless, jobless, campaignless, and ready for the next adventure! Although I don’t know what that is yet, I am sure this expedition won’t be the last big adventure I do!
Your Biggest Lesson
If you had to guess, what’s one lesson you think this journey will teach you about yourself or the world?
So far, I have already learned about what a huge sense of community and support there is to be found out there. But if I had to guess, I would say this is going to teach me that there is no limit to what we can achieve when we give it our all, and that we can make a difference so long as we keep trying.
