Tara sails free from icy shackles

 

A boat that was deliberately trapped in the Arctic ice in an effort to monitor the region's changing climate broke free yesterday (21st Jan) after more than 500 days.

In September 2006 the scientific polar schooner Tara sailed into the pack-ice and has been allowed to drift with the ocean currents and wind.

The two-masted manned vessel (ex Seamaster of New Zealand sailing hero Sir Peter Blake fame) is crammed full of sensors to monitor the ocean, atmosphere and ice.

The aluminium hulled, ice-strengthened boat is now on its way to the island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Ocean.

Click HERE to read the full story by By Jonathan Fildes Science and technology reporter, BBC News.

For more reading about Tara, click HERE.

For further reading about the 'DAMOCLES' EU research project into Arctic climate changes, click HERE.

Credit: Photo courtesy of Tara Expeditions