An eight-day delay while trapped in Arctic ice has deprived a Dublin solicitor of his chance to sail through a gap in the ice which opens up for just a short time once a year and would have allowed him to explore an island there.
Mr John Gore-Grimes, who is leading the expedition, and four other crew members landed in Honningsvag in Norway this week and are now thought to be on their way home to Howth Harbour in Co Dublin. He was trapped in ice for eight days, and at one point there were concerns when he was surrounded by polar bears. The weather and ice finally broke last Tuesday, allowing him to sail out of the region. He had been 10 miles from the open sea.
The expedition was aiming for Franz Josef Land which is an island in the Arctic belt where an Irishman landed in 1904. They were trapped in the ice about 100 miles from the island.
Mr Tom Lawlor, a photographer friend of Mr Gore-Grimes, said that being trapped in the ice prevented Mr Gore-Grimes from getting to Franz Josef Land. "He would have missed `nature's gate' when the ice breaks up for just a short time and that's the only opportunity anyone can have to break through and explore any of the islands. It is the only time of the year it can be done, then it closes again for another year."
Mr Lawlor said morale on board was good. Mr Gore-Grimes would not be disappointed about the failure to reach the island. "With most adventures it is the excitement of trying to reach a place and going where no tour operators can take you," he said.
The four other crew are Ms Merryl Huxstable from Britain; Mr Robert Pendleton, a son-in-law of Mr Gore-Grimes; Mr Nico Gore-Grimes, a nephew; and Mr Andrew Collins from Malahide.