ARCTIC TONY
- About My Previous Journeys
Thanet Times, September 7th 2004
Russian agents scuppered a daredevil pensioner’s bid to sail to the North Pole after accusing him of spying. Adventurer Tony Kearney (65) aimed to be the first man to single-handedly circumnavigate the Arctic Circle. The former Ramsgate teacher braved biting winds, icebergs, aggressive polar bears, endless daylight and extreme loneliness during his 12,000-mile trip. His journey home started on the 84th day of Tony’s James Bond-like jaunt as he battled huge waves and powerful winds. He was in the Barents Sea when he radioed for help due to medical attention and persistent engine trouble. A large coastguard ship pulled up alongside Tony as they needed to talk to him about being in Russian territory. He was towed for hundreds of miles and was told he was going to be interrogated as crew on the coastguard ship whispered ‘spy’. He eventually had to pay a fine and was towed hundreds of miles out of Russian waters. Tony said the whole journey was ‘hairy’ as he got stuck in thick ice for days on end and feared the boat would capsize during incredibly strong gales. Despite all this, Tony claims he would not swap the experience for anything. Tony arrived back in the harbour in the following September.
Thanet Times, May 9th 2006
Daredevil pensioner Tony Kearney has set out on his SECOND bid to sail solo around the North Pole. Physics teacher turned adventurer, 66, set out on the 12,000 mile trip from Ramsgate Harbour on May 1st. He took on the challenge in 2004 but was thwarted by Russian agents who sent him home, believing he was a spy. This journey sees Tony go to Norway, Russia, across Alaska, through islands off Canada, across Greenland and back to Britain. Tony, who once taught PE at King Ethelbert School in Birchington, is leaving partner Pearl Weller behind while he embarks on the 18-month jaunt. Tony admitted: “It’s tough, she’s not very happy”. His last trip came to a premature halt in Russia in October 2004 when agents interrogated him on suspicion of spying after he snapped a picture of a fishing fleet. Before that he was lucky to escape when a polar bear clawed his boat, which had become stuck in ice. He has spent thousands since his last trip and is confidant of success this time round. “This time I’ve got a visa which means I can go in and out of Russia as many times as I like”. He also said he has a few speary things he can use if coming into contact with polar bears!
Arctic Adventures:
May 2004: Tony’s first solo North Pole bid gets under way
August 2004: Attacked by a polar bear
September 2004: Captured by Russians
October 2004: Returns to Thanet
November 2004: Gets in row with Thanet council over harbour dues
January 2006: Repairs on boat completed
May 2006: Sets sail again
Thanet Times, July 11th 2006
Arctic adventurer Tony Kearney has completed the first leg of his bid to single-handedly sail around the North Pole- and become a hero in Russia along the way. Retired teacher Tony, 67, set sail from Ramsgate harbour on May 1st and is now in the Norwegian port of Vardo. While docked in Murmansk, in the extreme northwest of Russia, Tony saved an official’s dog from drowning after it plunged into the harbour. Friend Linda Ryder, who is keeping in touch with Tony from her Ramsgate home said: "He has become something of a hero after the rescue. There has been interest in him from the media over there". The yachtsman is now waiting for the ice to thaw so he can set off through the Northeast Passage through Russian waters towards the east. His last attempt hit the skids in the same area when Russian agents accused him of spying and held the pensioner before sending him back to Blighty.
Thanet Extra, October 13th 2006
Red tape puts brakes on Arctic adventure. Black icebergs, freezing conditions, radio silence and solitude, none of them could stop Arctic Tony from his circumnavigation of the North Pole. Russian bureaucracy, however, is another matter. It may no longer remain a Red country but its tape remains of a similar hue and despite months of negotiations leading to a passage being granted, retired Tony was sent packing. On his arctic wander, which went up past Spitzbergen to the edge of the polar ice cap, he came across some chilling (literally) moments, including the deadly black icebergs. “The black icebergs float on water level and you don’t see them until you have hit them”.
Russian agents scuppered a daredevil pensioner’s bid to sail to the North Pole after accusing him of spying. Adventurer Tony Kearney (65) aimed to be the first man to single-handedly circumnavigate the Arctic Circle. The former Ramsgate teacher braved biting winds, icebergs, aggressive polar bears, endless daylight and extreme loneliness during his 12,000-mile trip. His journey home started on the 84th day of Tony’s James Bond-like jaunt as he battled huge waves and powerful winds. He was in the Barents Sea when he radioed for help due to medical attention and persistent engine trouble. A large coastguard ship pulled up alongside Tony as they needed to talk to him about being in Russian territory. He was towed for hundreds of miles and was told he was going to be interrogated as crew on the coastguard ship whispered ‘spy’. He eventually had to pay a fine and was towed hundreds of miles out of Russian waters. Tony said the whole journey was ‘hairy’ as he got stuck in thick ice for days on end and feared the boat would capsize during incredibly strong gales. Despite all this, Tony claims he would not swap the experience for anything. Tony arrived back in the harbour in the following September.
Thanet Times, May 9th 2006
Daredevil pensioner Tony Kearney has set out on his SECOND bid to sail solo around the North Pole. Physics teacher turned adventurer, 66, set out on the 12,000 mile trip from Ramsgate Harbour on May 1st. He took on the challenge in 2004 but was thwarted by Russian agents who sent him home, believing he was a spy. This journey sees Tony go to Norway, Russia, across Alaska, through islands off Canada, across Greenland and back to Britain. Tony, who once taught PE at King Ethelbert School in Birchington, is leaving partner Pearl Weller behind while he embarks on the 18-month jaunt. Tony admitted: “It’s tough, she’s not very happy”. His last trip came to a premature halt in Russia in October 2004 when agents interrogated him on suspicion of spying after he snapped a picture of a fishing fleet. Before that he was lucky to escape when a polar bear clawed his boat, which had become stuck in ice. He has spent thousands since his last trip and is confidant of success this time round. “This time I’ve got a visa which means I can go in and out of Russia as many times as I like”. He also said he has a few speary things he can use if coming into contact with polar bears!
Arctic Adventures:
May 2004: Tony’s first solo North Pole bid gets under way
August 2004: Attacked by a polar bear
September 2004: Captured by Russians
October 2004: Returns to Thanet
November 2004: Gets in row with Thanet council over harbour dues
January 2006: Repairs on boat completed
May 2006: Sets sail again
Thanet Times, July 11th 2006
Arctic adventurer Tony Kearney has completed the first leg of his bid to single-handedly sail around the North Pole- and become a hero in Russia along the way. Retired teacher Tony, 67, set sail from Ramsgate harbour on May 1st and is now in the Norwegian port of Vardo. While docked in Murmansk, in the extreme northwest of Russia, Tony saved an official’s dog from drowning after it plunged into the harbour. Friend Linda Ryder, who is keeping in touch with Tony from her Ramsgate home said: "He has become something of a hero after the rescue. There has been interest in him from the media over there". The yachtsman is now waiting for the ice to thaw so he can set off through the Northeast Passage through Russian waters towards the east. His last attempt hit the skids in the same area when Russian agents accused him of spying and held the pensioner before sending him back to Blighty.
Thanet Extra, October 13th 2006
Red tape puts brakes on Arctic adventure. Black icebergs, freezing conditions, radio silence and solitude, none of them could stop Arctic Tony from his circumnavigation of the North Pole. Russian bureaucracy, however, is another matter. It may no longer remain a Red country but its tape remains of a similar hue and despite months of negotiations leading to a passage being granted, retired Tony was sent packing. On his arctic wander, which went up past Spitzbergen to the edge of the polar ice cap, he came across some chilling (literally) moments, including the deadly black icebergs. “The black icebergs float on water level and you don’t see them until you have hit them”.
Have any environmental questions or issues?
Contact Edge Enviro Services Ltd.
01843 825868
To donate to one of our charities click the images below:
SHAFTESBURY YOUNG PEOPLE: supporting kids in care
SSAFA: financial, practical and emotional assistance to anyone that is currently serving or has ever served in the Forces and their families
Save money on your gas, electricity, phones and broadband- all on one bill!
Save on food, shopping & fuels.
Earn money as well.
FREEPHONE:
0808 1469 165
Contact Edge Enviro Services Ltd.
01843 825868
To donate to one of our charities click the images below:
SHAFTESBURY YOUNG PEOPLE: supporting kids in care
SSAFA: financial, practical and emotional assistance to anyone that is currently serving or has ever served in the Forces and their families
Save money on your gas, electricity, phones and broadband- all on one bill!
Save on food, shopping & fuels.
Earn money as well.
FREEPHONE:
0808 1469 165
Northpole: the final frontier.
These are the voyages of Mohican Too, to discover new ice and boldly go where no one has gone before
These are the voyages of Mohican Too, to discover new ice and boldly go where no one has gone before
Let's put money in your Piggy Bank
Save Money- freephone 0808 1469 165
Make Money- mobile 0788 4022 450
tony2sea@yahoo.co.uk
Utility Warehouse Discount Club Authorised Distributor
Save Money- freephone 0808 1469 165
Make Money- mobile 0788 4022 450
tony2sea@yahoo.co.uk
Utility Warehouse Discount Club Authorised Distributor
