Hard question (s) both because it depends so much on the
skipper, and the ice situation is so variable year to year.
All sorts of sail boats have now done the NWP, including some with very little fuel. So, it is possible, particularly on 'good' ice years, to take the time to sail. But the boats that have the fuel tankage do tend to
motor quite a bit - several in fact 85% of the time.
It looked last year like the declining ice was a steady and reliable trend, so each year there was less ice and more time and flexibility to sail. But this year is a bit back to the old more squeezed schedule, and it makes the coming future years more difficult to predict.
So, after giving you the waffling answer of 'it depends on the
skipper and the ice' . . . . I think I personally would want a 750nm fuel range. There is usually decent breeze, but that would give you the flexibility to push through the tightest points.
There are fewer "safe anchorages" than you might expect - although that depends quite a bit on
draft and the French flat bottom lifting
keel boats have more alternatives. It's not hard for the ice to trap you in one, so you tend to go for it, as far as you can, when the ice is clear.
These are the refueling options along the way . . . .
Pond Inlet- fill jerry cans and transport by dinghy from beach (good weather only)
Resolute - fill jerry cans and transport by dinghy from beach
Diesel may also be available at Talloyoak/Spence Bay - details not known, but
Berrimilla was advised that
this was a possible refuelling point between Resolute and Gjoa Haven, south of Bellot Strait.
Gjoa Haven - anchorage - refuel by jerry can (approximately 750 miles from Pond Inlet)
Cambridge Bay - alongside refueling (approximately 260 miles from Gjoa Haven)
Tuktoyaktuk - fill jerry cans and transport by dinghy (approximately 675 miles from Cambridge Bay)
Barrow - open roadstead. May not be possible to stop in bad weather (approximately 500 milesfrom Tuktoyaktuk)
Nome - alongside berth for main fuel tanks. No jerry cans allowed for environmental reasons (approximately 600 miles from Barrow)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Panope
Hello Evans,
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Panope
Thanks for this very interesting info.
I have a couple of questions.
How much fuel range under power is necessary for "comfortable" transits of the NWP? Are winds reliable enough to make long fuel range unecessary?
Something tells me that when a lead in the ice opens up there will be a strong tendency to motor through as quick as possible. Is that generally the way it works? Or are people comfortable waiting in "safe" anchorages for favorable winds?
Thanks in advance,
Steve
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