Eric Brossier, the French geophysicist and yachtsman who made Polar history when he made the first uninterrupted circumnavigation of the North Pole by yacht, was in London yesterday.

Brossier and his family, who live on their 47ft yacht Vagabond, visited the Sail, Power & Watersports Show yesterday while in transit from Norway to Poland.

According to Brossier, Vagabond is now frozen in the pack ice, which gives them an opportunity to take a break from their sea ice study. Brossier commented: “We are so pleased to be here at Earls Court and really appreciate the warm welcome.

Vagabond is now frozen in Svalberg, Norway for the fifth winter. We are working for Sea Ice Study project funded by the European community and now we have almost three months break. We’ll be back on board in early January to continue our work.”

Brossier says the main season to work on sea ice is between February and May when the ice is thick and strong. They are trying to learn and understand more about the ice and the reasons why it is disappearing so rapidly. Brossier continued: “In a couple of years, maybe 10 years, there will be no more ice at the end of the summer in the Arctic, so we are happy to be useful for this scientific project.”