Greenland Legacy 26
Combining science and exploration to honour Nansen's Greenland legacy.
Expedition Mission
In July 2026, a group from across the UK Armed Forces will be the first military team to replicate Nansen's historic expedition to and across Greenland in1888. They will:
Develop resilience and leadership in remote and arduous conditions, with lows of -40°C, and 25 days on the ice.
Gather high quality scientific research, including gold standard stable isotope measurements for energy expenditure.
Demonstrate collaboration between NATO, Royal Navy, Army and RAF.
"There is no land on earth that gives one the same impression of infinite space and profound silence."
Fridtjof Nansen, The First Crossing of Greenland
The Route
Over three phases and eight arduous weeks the team will sail ~1300 Nm from Stavanger to Greenland.
Once ashore, the team will attempt the rarely tackled 450 km east–west crossing of Greenland, first achieved by Nansen in 1888.
On skis and hauling pulks with all their supplies, they will push themselves to the limit through crevasse fields, meltwater channels, and punishing Arctic weather.
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Stage 1
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~825Nm
Starting from Stavanger, Norway, the team will sail across the North Atlantic via The Shetland and Faroe Isles to Reykjavik, Iceland.
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Stage 2
~475Nm
In Iceland, the team transfers to a JSASTC Challenge 72 yacht for the 475Nm passage to Umivik on Greenland's east coast.
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Stage 3
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500km
From Umivik, the team will attempt the rarely tackled east-west crossing of Greenland, first achieved by Nansen in 1888.
The Team
Tony Lancashire
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Royal Navy
Expedition Leader, Royal Marine Commando, sailor, mountaineer.
Josh Bakker-Dyos
Royal Navy
Expedition Deputy Lead and Expedition Doctor, mountaineer.
Charley Marr
Army
Skier and adventurer in the first five years of service.
Col Campbell
Royal Air Force
Mountain Leader and climber.
Kris Storey
Royal Navy
Expedition Equipment Lead, engineer.
Tom Blankenstein
Army
Doctor and experienced ski mountaineer.
The Research
During the expedition the team will use gold standard scientific methods to provide a unique window into how the human body adapts to prolonged high energy expenditure in one of the most demanding environments on Earth.
Opportunities to conduct such field research are rare but can deliver insights of real scientific and practical value.
The research will provide greater insight for high energy expenditure individuals including athletes, military personnel and those working in arduous professions.
It will also contribute to the growing body of evidence that supports our understanding of key public health challenges including obesity and metabolic disease.
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Wednesday 2nd September
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Tuesday 18th August 2026
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Friday 31st July
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Sunday 19th July
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Saturday 18th July