However his experience in both business and in remote corners of the world will be invaluable in completing the goals of the trip. From a youth spent in Northern Ireland to formative years in Northern Scotland and a lifetime spent expeditioning around the world Jamie Young has an impressive CV. Single-handed across the Atlantic,Kayaked around Cape Horn in 1989 plus various other 'trips' all over the globe from Guinea Bissau to the south pole Expeditions -

1976. Observer single -handed across the Atlantic (and back)
1977/79. Skipper of US racing yacht 'Ondine'
1980. Started LKAC Ltd
1987. Winner first Irish Adventure Marathon.
1989. Leader of successful Irish Cape Horn Sea Kayak Expedition.
1992. Leader of successful Guinea Bissau Sea Kayak Expedition. 1997. Member of 'South Aris' Sailing & Mountaineering team completing a re-enactment of Shackleton's epic boat trip from Elephant Island to South Georgia & a subsequent traverse of South Georgia..
2002. Attempt to kite buggy back from S Pole. Ultimately unsuccessful but we tried!
2007. Participant 2 handed in www.azab.co.uk 2008. Participant with 5 man team in www.threepeaksyachtrace.co.uk.

He has been involved in competitive kayaking since 1986, and has travelled the world on many expeditions, exploring the wild rivers of every continent except Antarctica. Having studied Marine Science and been a schoolteacher, Ali now runs his own business, Saoirse na Mara, providing Sea Kayaking tours and coaching on the West coast of Ireland.

When he’s not in a kayak, Ali likes to climb, surf, sail, ski, fish, fix things – and generally do anything active in the outdoors. He holds many qualifications in Kayaking, Coaching, and Wilderness First Aid. He’s also a very proud dad and looks forward to many future adventures with his little daughter Ella. Wilderness Kayaking Expeditions ; Pakistan, Ethiopia, India, Norway, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia, Zambia, Uganda and the European Alps.

His qualifications range across Kayaking, mountaineering, powerboating, sailing and orienteering. In addition to working at delivering the activities and instructor training, Kevin is also adventures himself either with family or whomever else can get the time to go. Some of these adventures have ranged from multi day trips on Irish water ways, to slightly more competitive journeys such as the Azores and back sailing race, Devizes to Westminister international canoe Marathon, Mourne Mountain Marathon and the Three Peaks yacht race. Kevin is also a member of an exclusive group of people who have landed on Rockall, that isolated outpost of Irish territory. Kevin is based in Galway, near the head of Kinvara Bay. His wife and family also share his passion for camping and journeying in the wilder more remote areas….. as long as the kids are allowed to bring a friend!

Colin has been working in the outdoors for almost 30 years now. He first started working for Jamie and Mary Young in 1984 as an 20 year old instructor learning the ropes. He was soon skippering yachts and taking people up into the hills and mountains of Connemara. A qualified teacher in science, geography and Outdoor Education, Colin has spent a large amount of his life outside, including sailing the Atlantic several times and skippering a 46ft racing yacht. Colin moved on after a couple of years to continue his studies.Since 2001 Colin has been working at Shielbaggan outdoor centre as centre director.

Colins speciality on the expedition will be as a sailor and climber. When not working at Shielbaggan, Colin is having fun with his kids or trying to escape to go rock climbing.

Colin’s personal philosophy is: “don’t let any opportunities pass you by"

Shane headed off to New Zealand at 18 before returning to attend University in Dublin. Following this, he moved to Argentina where he played rugby for Cardinal Newman, one of the top teams in the country. While in Argentina he travelled and explored from the Northern steppes to Southern Patagonia. Shane is an avid racer and has competed in a number of different events from 3 day adventure races to 2 day mountain marathons. Over the years he has travelled from Argentina to New Zealand and has recently returned from a hiking expedition in the Caucasus. He is constantly looking for the next challenge and has always dreamed about going to the North Pole. This is halfway to completing his dream.

During the past ten years she has worked as a communications and marketing consultant in New Zealand, Africa and Australia, writing and presenting information on topics ranging from climate change to pesticides in food, to the public and affected communities. She has recently returned to Ireland after studying Documentary Film Making at the MET Film School in London. Since then, she has been developing documentary ideas from her experiences, producing promotional short films for sporting events and working with Killary Adventure Co. in the West of Ireland on their marketing campaigns. The expedition documentary 'North of Disko' will be aimed at a national broadcast audience.

His own personal travels have taken him kayaking on the Ecuadorean Amazon and through Patagonia. His sailing experience is limited to one attempt with a small crew sailing to the Azores in 2006, which was abruptly cut short by stormy seas. Dougal is the youngest person on board and hopes this will be the first of many expeditions. .
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Daragh has a particular fascination with ice and has produced a previous collection entitled 'Sand & Ice' where he travelled to the Sahara before taking himself and his campervan to Iceland to photograph the contrasting subject matter in opposing climates. More recently Daragh has published a hardback book entitled 'Jewellery Box - Ireland's Hidden Gems', a collection of rockpool images from every coastal county of Ireland. This collection has been widely acclaimed and since its completion has been exhibited in numerous venues internationally with the support of the Irish Embassies, Irish Consulates, Culture Ireland and Tourism Ireland.Daragh’s interest in photography originally developed while scuba diving in 1992, when he was awestruck by being under water and the sights he beheld. Life under the sea was like another world, where he made an instant and profound connection with nature. Aiming to capture nature’s finer detail and convey some of it’s abstract beauty, Daragh’s work is a gentle reminder for us to appreciate our beautiful planet.Daragh is a keen surfer and outdoors man. He has sailed with Jamie, Geo and Shane before as part of the 3 Peaks Yacht Race and has plenty of 'seatime' as an able bodied crewman. He also has good knowledge of rock & ice climbing after a few expeditions to the Alps. Daragh sells his work under the banner of Dúlra Photography which he established in January, 2003. www.dulra.com
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Most recently she has concentrated on big wall climbing, including in multi-day solo ascents of El Capitan and Washington Column in Yosemite Valley in California. She is in her final year at DIT, where she has been studying geomatics, and has just accepted her first graduate job with a mine surveying company in Cornwall.
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Stephen started climbing when he went to Dublin City University and soon became obsessed with the sport. He loves the places that climbing has brought him and he tries to never let an opportunity pass him by. He spends his weekends over the summer chasing dry weather and dry rock across the country. In the past he worked as a sailing instructor in Ireland and the USA but these days he can be found racing yachts in various on-shore and off-shore competitions around the country. The combination of sailing and climbing in Greenland would be a dream come true.
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She has been constantly upgraded over the time to the stage where she is now ready for some high altitude exploring. She sleeps eight at a push but is probably a bit more comfortable with 6 crew. In the capable hands of an experienced crew she will fly along at 8-10 knots. Hopefully we will be able to show off her capabilities over the course of the expedition. Trips in recent years include the Azores, the Scottish Isles, France, Spain, England and numerous trips around the beautiful west coast of Ireland.

Leading up to the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway in 2012 she came second in the annual Round Rockall Race, sailed single handed by Jamie. Our home away from home for the coming expedition has been fitted out for sailing in high latitudes, with a diesel stove, insulation, HF radio and room for hanging Shane's home cured ham! Little comforts are all taken care of.