A journey from Sea to Summit

By Mats Hjørnevik, Marketing Director at Nordkapp Boats

About one year ago, I found myself navigating the stunning yet unforgiving waters of the Barents Sea, with two-metre waves beneath the hull. Alone on the Nordkapp Coupe 905 V12, surrounded by towering mountains and endless horizons, I was reminded of the profound connection between man, machine, and nature. This was the essence of Nordkapp's Sea to Summit project—to experience true adventure in one of the most remote parts of the world.

Watch Sea to Summit here

The idea for Sea to Summit was to ski the Lyngen Alps, using a boat as our only transportation. The inspiration for this ambitious journey stemmed from stories shared by the Nordkapp family. Many use their boats throughout the year, embracing adventures that test their skills and vessels. We've always prided ourselves on crafting boats that are not just seaworthy but thrive when conditions become challenging. The Coupe 905 V12, with its driver-friendly design and robust capabilities, was the ideal choice to embark on such an expedition.

Planning the adventure was a meticulous process. The Arctic is a place where weather dictates terms, and we knew that nature would have the final say. Logistics became a puzzle we were eager to solve. Shipping the boat to Tromsø was the first hurdle, but thanks to the exceptional support from our authorised Nordkapp dealer in the area, Maritim Center, everything fell into place seamlessly. Their expertise turned potential obstacles into mere stepping stones.

Fuel management, however, presented a unique challenge. In Arctic Norway, fuel depots are few and far between. While our brand ambassadors—Axel Lund Svindal, Helene Olafsen, and Kajsa Vickhoff-Lie—were out carving paths on untouched slopes, I often found myself refuelling the boat manually. Reflecting on the journey, though not captured on camera, these are the moments I remember most vividly.

Transporting jerry cans filled with 20 litres of fuel each, I would spend hours ensuring the Coupe 905 V12 was ready for the next leg of our journey. Those solitary moments on the boat, amidst the vastness of the Arctic sea, offered a humbling perspective on our surroundings' sheer scale and beauty. It reminded me why we undertake such adventures—to break out of our comfort zones and witness the world's natural wonders firsthand.

The Arctic conditions were a relentless adversary. Temperatures plummeted to -25 degrees Celsius at night and hovered around -15 during the day. The sea water itself was below zero, a stark reminder of the environment we were operating in. The Coupe 905 V12's heating system proved invaluable, transforming the freezing conditions into a comfortable experience. The walkaround design facilitated easy movement on deck, which is crucial when handling equipment in such extreme cold.

The true test of the Coupe 905 V12 came unexpectedly. On the final day of filming, a massive snowstorm loomed on the horizon, advancing from the northeast. Time was not on our side. Leaving the boat behind was not an option I was willing to consider, so I decided to set off alone for Tromsø, racing against the impending storm. As I navigated the vessel, the waves grew increasingly formidable, reaching heights of up to two metres. Yet, throughout the journey, I felt a steadfast confidence in the boat's abilities. The V12 engine powered through the surging seas, and the hull sliced through the waves with precision. Reaching Tromsø just ahead of the storm was not only a relief but a statement of the reliability and performance of the Coupe 905 V12.

This expedition has had a lasting impact on how we approach future projects. We've become even more attuned to our customers' experiences, drawing inspiration from your stories and adventures. This summer, for example, we embraced this ethos by having a movie night on an island inspired by members of the Nordkapp family. Experiences like these remind us that our mission is more significant than building boats; it's about fostering a community that shares a passion for exploration and creating memories that last a lifetime.

You can watch "Movie night on an island" here.

On a personal level, the Sea to Summit project was an opportunity to push my boundaries. Navigating the Arctic waters alone challenged me in ways I hadn't anticipated, enhancing my skills and deepening my appreciation for the sea's vastness. It reinforced my belief in the importance of trusting your equipment, and knowing that the Coupe 905 V12 was reliable in such remote and harsh conditions made all the difference. There was never a moment of doubt, and that peace of mind was invaluable. Spending time with our ambassadors and the local community was equally rewarding. Their enthusiasm and expertise added a rich layer to the experience.

As I look back on the Sea to Summit expedition, I am filled with gratitude. For the team that made it possible, for the natural beauty we were privileged to witness, and for the enduring legacy of resilience that Nordkapp continues to uphold. The Arctic may be a place of extremes, but it is in these extremes that we find our greatest stories.

The journey reaffirmed a simple truth: with the right vessel beneath you and a passion for discovery, the world offers endless horizons to explore. The Coupe 905 V12 showed its true colours, and I feel we only scratched the surface of its capabilities.