FAVRE LEUBA Companion of Arctic Mission Explorers
This year Favre-Leuba celebrates its 280th anniversary, a remarkable milestone for a watch brand. Be it with its watches such as the Raider Harpoon or Raider Bivouac 9000, or with its association with Arctic Mission, led by renowned Arctic explorer – Pen Hadow, the brand understands what it takes to go beyond the everyday living to achieve a goal that will have larger implications for all life on earth.
The rapidly changing environment around us has led to many changes in nature, which can truly be understood only when we see it. This is what Arctic Mission team, co-led by the renowned explorer Pen Hadow (55) and Arctic specialist yachtsman Erik de Jong (35), aims to do.
A pioneering voyage, called Arctic Mission, set sail to the Central Arctic Ocean from Nome, Alaska (USA) on August 15 co-led by the renowned explorer Pen Hadow (55) and Arctic specialist yachtsman Erik de Jong (35) to study the rapidly changing environment around us that has led to many changes in nature. Two 50-foot yachts are sailing across almost half of the 3,000,000 sq. km area of international waters around the North Pole, which is ice-free and now navigable by surface vessels.
The 10-member crew on these yachts could be among the first to reach the furthest north ever sailed. Conquering the physical, mental and emotional frontiers this journey will pose is unimaginable. Favre-Leuba understands this spirit and supports the team on this journey by being their indispensable companion through it all.
During such a critical mission, there are two important tools that Hadow will be using – a notebook to record his findings, and the Favre-Leuba Raider Harpoon – to help him record date and time of the events, and research sightings and information they come across.
Braving the changing weather conditions, Hadow expressed his need for an indispensable companion for his mission – one that is precise, reliable, robust, easy to read in the dark conditions, and which will survive the cold seas should an instance occur. Raider Harpoon fit this requirement perfectly. The unique method of time telling featured on the Harpoon allowed for easy and clear reading, the blue luminous indicators allowed good visibility even in the dark, and the helium valve and 500m water resistance allows the explorer to dive into the ice-cold waters should it be required.
On another note, Pen Hadow wanted a brand who could understand the importance of the mission and resonate with its values. Conquering frontiers has been the DNA of Favre-Leuba since inception and this means the brand understands the challenges and uncertainty the team will face. It also understands the persistent and defiant spirit of the explorer; one where ingenious creativity and utmost endurance are survival necessities. These virtues made the two forerunners become indispensable companions through the common goal – showcase to the world the changing dynamics we face today.
If the Arctic Mission sailing yachts reach the North Pole at 90 degrees North, the voyage would deliver one of the iconic images of the 21st century.
