Why We Are Sailing the Northwest Passage: Quest Is Bound for the Arctic

Ever since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by stories of exploration and daring voyages. I devoured books like Patrick O’Brian’s nautical epics, Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, and expeditions such as Shackleton’s South. Even as a little 10 year old girl, I would sail the Optimist dinghy at our local sailing club in Limhamn, help my parents sail our Maxi 95, and later, my first sailing yacht at 18, imagining I was off on adventures. When I sold my second yacht, to pursue an academic career and later live a life on my farm in Sweden, I promised myself to return to a life at sea when the timing was right. It seems that 13 years later the timing was right, and I stepped aboard Quest again after many years.

Now, aboard Quest, that childhood curiosity and love for exploration has brought me, and Goeran, to one of the most iconic Arctic expeditions in the world: sailing the Northwest Passage. Quest has always been more than just a yacht. It’s our floating home, platform of discovery, and the vessel that carries us into adventure. She will carry us through ice-strewn waters, towering glaciers, and some of the most remote, breathtaking landscapes on Earth, a ship perfectly suited to the challenges and wonders of the Arctic.

A Dream Decades in the Making

When I returned aboard Quest in 2023, I noticed a book on the Northwest Passage sitting on the shelf. Goeran had kept it since the 1980s, a reminder of a dream he had been nurturing for decades. He had completed countless other polar expeditions, but the Northwest Passage remained unfinished. That year, I read the book cover to cover, and an idea began to form, that we should sail it together.

When I now sit on Quest, in the Caribbean sun listening to the howler monkeys from the Panamanian jungle, and read the Royal Cruising Club’s Guide to the Arctic and Northern Waters, it hits me, that this is actually happening. This expedition is more than a voyage; it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for both of us. For Goeran, it’s the chance to finally navigate a route he’s envisioned since the 1980s. For me, it’s the culmination of a childhood love for adventures, exploration, and the beauty of polar climates.

Why the Northwest Passage Captivates

The Northwest Passage is one of the most historic and challenging Arctic routes in the world, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through ice-covered waters. For centuries, explorers dreamed of finding a navigable path through the Arctic. A shortcut for trade and exploration that promised wealth, prestige, and adventure. Legends like John Franklin, Roald Amundsen, and Henry Hudson braved extreme cold, shifting ice, and isolation in pursuit of this elusive route, at great personal risk. Their stories of courage, hardship, and discovery have inspired generations of adventurers, including us.

For us, sailing the Northwest Passage is not just a journey through ice and water; it’s a voyage through history. We are following in the footsteps of explorers who pushed the limits of human endurance and curiosity, tracing the paths they charted hundreds of years ago.

Beyond its historic significance, the Arctic itself is awe-inspiring. There is a reason why I, despite all my travels, keep returning to my home country, and that is the cold unforgiving climate. I’ve always thrived in environments where life demands something of you. Where every day is shaped by the simple necessity of providing for yourself. There is nothing I thrive more in than the hardship of cutting down your own trees to heat your house to keep the temperature above zero. The same goes for sailing. The challenges shape you, refine you, and teach you to meet every situation with clarity and humility. There’s a quiet satisfaction in depending on your own hands for the basics, in doing the work that keeps you warm, fed, and grounded.

And then there is the beauty of the north, something unique in its quiet, raw simplicity. The feeling of stepping into a world shaped by ice, wind, and silence. Swedish Arctic nature carries a purity that is hard to describe: the sun barely slips above the horizon, casting only a brief light across the landscape, snow-covered mountains rising out of the white, and a crisp, dry air that bites your lungs in the best possible way. The entire north feels both otherworldly and achingly beautiful.

Now, I have the immense privilege, one most people never get, to see more of the Arctic. And not just in any way, but the legendary Northwest passage. The towering glaciers, shifting ice floes, and the quiet majesty of polar landscapes. We hope to witness wildlife in its natural habitat. Every mile is a story worth sharing, and a reminder of the fragility and wonder of this extraordinary environment.

The Inner Journey Ahead

For both me and Goeran, sailing the Northwest Passage isn’t just an external expedition; it’s an inner one as well. We’ve both lived our lives guided by a strong inner compass, trusting intuition and our ability to stay grounded no matter the circumstances. Goeran has an incredible ability to know himself deeply: his strengths, his limits, his reactions, and what he’s capable of, even in the most demanding conditions.

And I’ve carried a similar trait ever since I was a child. I’ve had the ability to step outside myself, almost objectively, see situations from different angles, and stay calm even when emotions might take over.  It’s helped me navigate both the sea and life with clarity.

Because of that, both of us are genuinely curious about the inner journey that awaits us in the Arctic. The Northwest Passage isn’t just a test of seamanship or endurance. It’s a test of the self.

We’ve both done a lot of inner work throughout our lives. But these legendary waters will offer a new kind of challenge, at least for me. Long stretches of silence, nature that humbles you, and moments where intuition matters as much as navigation. That’s one of the reasons we feel so drawn to these legendary waters.

An Arctic Adventure with Purpose

Sailing the Northwest Passage is not just about adventure. It’s about observing an ever changing Arctic and appreciating its fragile ecosystems. It’s a journey that tests resilience, navigation skills, and the ability to embrace the unknown. For us, every sunrise and every encounter with wildlife is a reminder of why we love exploration.

We would like this expedition to also be part of a larger mission. To be able to give the opportunity for people that want to join us, to document, share, and raise awareness about the Arctic as it is today - its beauty, its challenges, and the cultural and environmental stories. Through film, writing, and photography, we hope to contribute to conversations about the knowledge, experiences, and realities of the polar regions today.

We want Quest to be a platform for curiosity. We welcome people who bring perspectives; scientific, cultural, creative, or simply a passion for the north. Whether through collaborations, research, or storytelling, we want this expedition to connect people with a place few ever get to witness.

— Signed, your first mate on deck, Hilda

Here, at anchor in Puerto Lindo Panama, reading up on the Arctic and Northern Waters