Northwest Passage

[Colorado Dreamer]

Just curious if anyone knows of any private cruisers making the Northwest Passage, or any good books/articles. I have always been fascinated by it.

Thanks.

[Pura Vida]

A couple of guys did it in a hobie cat.

The Polar Passage Expedition

[Lodesman]

Not a private cruiser, but in 2000 the St Roch II re-traced the historic trek of the original St Roch, in just 100 days. The original took nearly 3 years. Not a huge boat, and certainly not an ice-breaker - guess global warming is good for something. St. Roch II Expedition

[Steve Rust]

Look for a book titled The Arctic Grail by Pierre Berton. It covers the period of John Ross's 1818 expedition thru the first successful trip by Roald Amundsen in 1903-1906. Extensive coverage of the ill fated Franklin expedition of 1845 and the subsequent searches for them. It is astounding what these men went through in this era of wooden ships and iron men.

The Northwest passage was on average only passable once every ten years. With global climate change I am sure it will be open much more frequently in the future.

[little boat]

adrian flanagan on his boat, barrabas, is attempting to get through right now.
http://www.alphaglobalex.com/
go to the blog for the latest update.
he has had many setbacks in his goal for a 'verticle circumnavigation'.

[knottybuoyz]

The 57-foot George Buehler design is the first trawler
yacht to make the treacherous passage across the Canadian Arctic in a single season
Idlewild transits the Northwest Passage on Trawlers & Trawlering

PV, I had a partial interest in the Polar Passage expedition by Jeff MacInnis & Mike Beedell. The designer of their arctic clothing was Helmut Seipmann of Helm Designs. I still have my complete arctic outfit hand sewn by him. At the time the clothing was beyond state of the art. In fact I think he still owes me money!! *lol* I've been thinking of selling it on e-Bay cause after 20 yrs there's no way I'll fit into it again.

This is the extreme arctic jackets they wore. Multiple layers of Thinsulate. 100% Goretex outershell. Inner vest. Polyprop inner liner. You could get totally soaked in 32 deg water and drip dry in 5 mins in this clothing.





Lodesman, I was on the St. Roch II when it arrived in Prescott to meet the Govenor General. I'll post pics of that tomorrow as well.

I've been there a couple of times. First time I joined the Louis S. St-Laurent in Resolute and sailed back. Second time I joined the Louis in Iqualuit and we broke ice through the MacLure (sp) straight, first ship to do that. The arctic is an amazing place but no place for the faint of heart. There are no rescue or support facilities and the capable icebreakers are few and far between. You are truly on your own up there. The hydrography is sketchy and the ice can carry you aground as easily as crush your hull.

[knottybuoyz]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

Not a private cruiser, but in 2000 the St Roch II re-traced the historic trek of the original St Roch, in just 100 days. The original took nearly 3 years. Not a huge boat, and certainly not an ice-breaker - guess global warming is good for something. St. Roch II Expedition

[TaoJones]

From today's 'Lectronic Latitude, come word of a successful passage completed last Sunday:

"The Northwest Passage Under Sail

September 12 - Nuussauq, Greenland
If this doesn't just take the cake. French sailors Sebastien Roubinet, Eric André, Boris Teisserenc and Anne-Lise Vacher-Morazzani arrived in Nuussuaq, Greenland on Sunday after a nearly four month transit of the fabled Northwest Passage."

For the full story, go to:

Latitude 38 - Northern California's Premier Sailing and Marine Magazine

TaoJones

[jscott]

Forget the name, one guy went up the peace river then the mackenzie, out inuvik, through the passage then around the world back to Vancouver.

Just a couple of years ago.

[knottybuoyz]

Originally Posted by jscott

Forget the name, one guy went up the peace river then the mackenzie, out inuvik, through the passage then around the world back to Vancouver.

Just a couple of years ago.

Idlewild transits the Northwest Passage on Trawlers & Trawlering

[jscott]

hey thanks for the link, it's a great story.

[knottybuoyz]

Won't be long now!!!

Melting of Arctic sea ice shatters record

[Amphibian]

Two Norwegian sailboats did it last August: The Cold Passage | UpHere.ca

The "Modern Viking" version of the two is downright embarrassing in my view, although some may find such personalities "fun/cool/daring/innovative" like a phenomenon discussed here before…

This USCG history in connection with their own passage in 1957 is quite good: http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles...assage1957.pdf

Article on territorial disputes and commercial shipping and environmental impact: Ice melts opening up Northwest Passage - Telegraph

[freetime]

On Swedish Tv they say the North West passage is open right now(Today)...

Is it possible to sail the North West passage....?

[jscott]

Originally Posted by freetime

On Swedish Tv they say the North West passage is open right now(Today)...

Is it possible to sail the North West passage....?

Yeah, they had some pictures of the Ice Breaker Louis St. Laurant, pushing pack ice through the North west passage just last week...

Probably won't make it with a Bavaria 46....