North West Passage across Alaska & Canada

[grantmc]

As the 2024 season closes I suggest we give a few thoughts to the successful vessels along with their crews who’ve completed the NW Passage across Alaska and Canada.

For me a standout is the SV Moli, a Reinke, (German designed and built) aluminium twin keeled S14 that has just completed her 4th (yes fourth) NW. Current owner/skipper Randall Reeves completed a single handed the voyage in 2019 as he undertook the figure eight around the greater American continent. And a few days ago completed his second passage, this time with a single crewman.

Previous owners, Americans Glen & Ann Bainbridge achieved the East to West voyage over two seasons, 2014 and 2015 when the boat was named Gjoa.

In 1990 the German yacht then called Asma, owner Clark Stede, together with crew Michelle Poncini, conquered the Northwest Passage, and then circumnavigated the American double continent,

As a proud owner of a twin keeled Reinke myself I’ve had much ribbing because of the unconventional keel design, And whilst I don’t aspire to a NW Passage, this is the only yacht design/build that has made four such trips. It certainly demonstrates the severe beating and demands that these boats can take.

The screen dump below is of the voyage of SV Moli.

[grantmc]

And as an addendum to my post above, I can’t forget the fantastic achievement of another aluminium built yacht, SV Lumi. She also completed the voyage a few days ago, and is now in Greenland. As with Moli, an unconventional keel design.

SV Lumi is owned and skippered by Finlander Juho, and his partner Dr Sohvi. With two additional crew they also achieved something incredibly special. Juho runs the amazing YouTube Channel Alluring Artic Sailing.

[User 09]

Long time fan of Alluring Arctic. cant wait to see their videos from the passage. Really love their boat. I think Tapio Lehtinen in his Swan was also attempting it this season but i did not follow and not sure if he ended up doing it.

[svnasha]

Has anyone completed NW passage in production built monohull/multihull? Curious mind wants to know.

[fxykty]

Not all smooth sailing/motoring in the NW Passage. In August of 2018 an Ovni 345 sank after the ice floe that it was tied to drifted into another flow and crushed the boat between them. The crew got off the boat before it sank but weren’t able to gather any equipment. They were rescued after 11 hours by a helicopter.

https://www.yacht.de/en/distress-at-...hwest-passage/

[dlj]

I've been following Alluring Artic. There was another French boat that was sailing quite close with them a lot of the time. I haven't heard if they have also made it, does anyone know?

dj

[svnasha]

Alluring Arctic has not posted any update. I am curious to know if he made it to other side as well.

[User 09]

Originally Posted by svnasha

Alluring Arctic has not posted any update. I am curious to know if he made it to other side as well.

Yes on Patreon they posted that they arrived in Greenland on September 4th.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by svnasha

Has anyone completed NW passage in production built monohull/multihull? Curious mind wants to know.

A Danish couple, Kirsten and Kim, took a 1999 Jeaneau Sun Odyssey (Sol) west to east back in 2012 I believe theirs was the first fiberglass boat to go through

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by User 09

Long time fan of Alluring Arctic. cant wait to see their videos from the passage. Really love their boat. I think Tapio Lehtinen in his Swan was also attempting it this season but i did not follow and not sure if he ended up doing it.

Refer to post no 2 above. It is Alluring Artic's track, and yes they're now in Greenland.

[User 09]

Originally Posted by grantmc

Refer to post no 2 above. It is Alluring Artic's track, and yes they're now in Greenland.

Yes, i'm aware of that. I was expressing that i also enjoyed their channel/achievement.

[HankOnthewater]

Originally Posted by svnasha

Has anyone completed NW passage in production built monohull/multihull? Curious mind wants to know.

Have a look at this list
https://thenorthwestpassage.info/tra...s-summary-list

I met a French guy in Australia who did that passage in his boat just under 40 ft, a Jenneau DS. Cannot find his itinerary and website at the moment.

On edit: he had a 11 mt boat named Roxane, completed in 2012

[Breaking Waves]

guys . . . . quite a few 'normal/plain' boats have gone thru the NWP.

Matthew Rutherford went solo in 2011 circumnavigation in a pretty beat up 27-foot Albin Vega (and then went around cape horn). This is perhaps the most 'low end' boat I am aware of, but there have been all sorts, including Beach Cat (type boats) and kayaks.

David Scott Cowper has completed 6 NWP passage transits in various boats. First time in a converted wooden lifeboat(in 1990 completed)

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by carstenb

A Danish couple, Kirsten and Kim, took a 1999 Jeaneau Sun Odyssey (Sol) west to east back in 2012 I believe theirs was the first fiberglass boat to go through

That same season the Scottish GRP yacht, a production Westerley 33 footer, Dodo's Delight, with a crew of 4 South African climbers, plus skipper, completed the passage East to West. Captained by the amazing Bob Shepton, multiple winner of the Tillman award.

The following season Bob sailed the boat back through the NW Passage West to East.

https://bobshepton.co.uk/awards-skipper-navigator/

https://northwestpassage2012.blogspot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dgr36MfnWU

[northwestsailor]

How about Gerd and Melissa Marggraff on Thor a Joubert 60 ft self-built in strongall method with thick aluminum plates and high heat welding? The two of them traveled without assistance. They previously sailed around the world in a self built aluminum catamaran. They hope to Winter in Homer or thereabouts.

I have a sister ship (Arktika aVoyager 47) by built in the Meta yard in France that did the NW and NE passages with the previous owner.

Juho and Sohlvi briefly operated the boat for us during COVID days before they found their Garcia in the Bay Area of California. They left Arktika in Iceland where we picked her up. Currently in Scotland.