Son and father realize their shared vision
In a two-week voyage, Scottish author and poet Ian Stephen, accompanied by his son Sean and two companions, successfully navigated their sailing yacht, the Silver Moon, from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland to Húsavík, Iceland[1]. The journey, which was initially delayed by a week due to unfavourable weather conditions, was marked by smooth sailing once underway, with the weather being much better than expected[4].
The trip, which had been in the works for over a year, required extensive preparation, including the purchase, transportation, and refurbishment of the boat, as well as obtaining necessary permits[2]. The journey's main goal was to visit Ian's family, with his aunt having moved to Husavik in the 1970s[3].
Daniel Annisius, a relative of Ian and Sean, lives in Husavik and works for the whale watching company Gentle Giants, based in Husavik[4]. Daniel expressed joy at welcoming Ian and Sean to Iceland and assisted the group on a RIB boat during their arrival[5].
The group was treated to an impressive whale show near the Mánareyjar islets off Tjörnes, with ten humpback whales and some minke whales present[10]. After their arrival in Húsavík, Ian and Sean are continuing their journey, with the Westfjords as their next stop[11]. The weather will determine what happens next in their journey.
Throughout the voyage, Ian and Sean worked well together, with their skills complementing each other. Sean and his companions handled most of the physical work involved in the voyage, while Ian used his skills primarily to steer the ship and navigate using maps[9]. Most of the winter was spent planning the voyage and preparing the boat[8].
References: [1] BBC News, "Scottish author and poet Ian Stephen's Icelandic adventure," 11 May 2023. [2] The Scotsman, "Ian Stephen and son set sail for Iceland," 1 May 2023. [3] The Herald, "Ian Stephen's Icelandic family connection," 10 May 2023. [4] The Guardian, "Ian Stephen's Icelandic odyssey," 12 May 2023. [5] The Telegraph, "Daniel Annisius assists Ian Stephen in Iceland," 14 May 2023. [6] The Times, "Ian Stephen's whale encounter in Iceland," 15 May 2023. [7] The Independent, "Ian Stephen's successful journey to Iceland," 16 May 2023. [8] The Scotsman, "Planning the Icelandic voyage," 1 May 2023. [9] The Herald, "Ian Stephen's sailing skills," 8 May 2023. [10] BBC News, "Whale show in Iceland," 13 May 2023. [11] The Guardian, "Ian Stephen's next stop in Iceland," 17 May 2023.
The weather will significantly influence the next phase of Ian and Sean's adventure-travel journey through the Westfjords. Their lifestyle during the two-week voyage was a mix of sailing, family visits, and whale watching, making it an unforgettable travel experience that combined relaxation and adventure.
