The all-women sailing expedition will depart on 12th July from Ilulissat in Disko Bay, where massive icebergs calve from one of the world's most active glaciers. The crew will sail south, visiting the remote communities of Qeqertarsuaq and Sisimiut, before arriving in the capital, Nuuk.
Led by British environmental organisation eXXpedition in partnership with the University of Georgia, Dr Winnie Courtene-Jones, Lecturer in Marine Pollution at Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences, joins the team as mission leader for this Arctic voyage
Winnie and her team will continue their mission to map where ocean plastic comes from and identify the most impactful solutions to this global challenge. While on board, the crew will conduct water sampling and analyse microplastics using state-of-the-art scientific equipment. They will also visit coastal communities along the way, conducting shore-based research into litter, products and waste management infrastructure, in collaboration with local experts.
During the expedition, Winnie will work with a multidisciplinary crew of eleven incredible women, including scientists, advocates and communicators from around the world. Together they will deliver the expedition's three core pillars: to conduct scientific research, to share their stories and learn from each other, and to inspire their networks to take action.
Winnie was science lead during eXXpediton’s Round The World voyage (2019 -2020), and is excited to be rejoining the team. As they embark from Ilulissat, Winnie says:
“Plastic pollution is a global environmental problem. However, it is only by gaining a better insight into how plastic passes from its source to the oceans that we will be fully equipped to tackle the problem. We all have a role in addressing this challenge and driving solutions, and I am looking forward to exploring this with the interdisciplinary crew”
Emily Penn, eXXpedition Founder said, "When you sail into the glacial waters and midnight sun of the Arctic, you expect to find the ocean as it should be: wild, pristine, untouched. But our research tells a different story. These are some of the most remote waters on the planet, thousands of miles from big cities and ocean gyres, yet we still find plastic in the water and along the shores. There is nowhere left the crisis hasn't reached. And that is why we need people from every background driving solutions from every angle."
Following three successful expeditions from New Zealand to Tonga in April and May this year, this is the fourth 2026 expedition. Following three successful expeditions from New Zealand to Tonga in April and May this year, this is the fourth 2026 expedition. The first three expeditions saw 30 guest crew sail 1,740 nautical miles, conducting 22 water samples, 232 litter & coastal transects and analysing 429 pieces of plastic. They engaged with 191 local community members, and generated 29 news stories across 7 countries. The data will be analysed and findings published by the University of Georgia later this year.
The data will be analysed and findings published by the University of Georgia later this year.
The expedition vessel, 72-foot yacht SV Sea Dragon, will be skippered by Ineke van der Weijden
The eleven guest crew members are:
- Catherine Nicola Rogers, Health Expert, UK
- Elizabeth Starnes, Nurse Practitioner, USA
- Kateryna Peinecke, Sustainable Energy Scientist, Canada
- Katy Bear Nalven, Marine Conservationist, USA
- Katja Heinzlmaier, Academic, Austria
- Lyssa Manning, Marine Conservationist, USA
- Natalie Foote, Operations and Strategy Leader, USA
- Shannon Osaka, Climate Reporter, USA
- Sofia Nogués Segura, Communications Expert, Spain
- Stephanie Peters, Environmental Strategist, UK
- Waverly Wadsworth, Environmental Engineer, USA
To follow the eXXpedition Arctic’s progress, you can read their blogs here.
