Category: Expeditions
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North West Passage – Day 36 – 37 – Herschel Island to Kaktovik
8th September 2023 – Day 36 Friday Yesterday we arrived in Pauline Cove, Herschel Island late afternoon.(Population of Herschel in the summer is just 4 rangers, in the winter the island is deserted). We pumped up the dinghy and went ashore. We wandered around the preserved historic buildings from the old whaling port and met…
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North West Passage – Day 34 – 35 – Tuktoyaktuk and the voyage to Herschel Island
6th September 2023 – Day 34 Wednesday We arrived in Tuktoyaktoy (Population 900) in the early hours. Entering the harbour in the dark required carefully attention to the various leading lights. We couldn’t make out any alongside options so we dropped the anchor in 11 m in the centre of the harbour and rigged up…
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North West Passage – Days 32-33 – Passage to Tuktoyaktuk
4th September 2023 – Day 32 Monday We are currently about 30 nm from the Baillie Islands. There is Snowgoose Passage which cuts off the corner, but it is too shallow for us. From the mast spreaders it is possible to see the Smoking Mountains about 30 nm off our port beam. They burn permanently…
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North West Passage – Days 30-31 – Lady Richardson Bay towards Tuktoyaktuk
2nd – 3rd September 2023 – Days 30 and 31 Saturday and Sunday We never did light the bonfire on the beach but spent the day on the boat hoping lassitude wouldn’t creep in. Champagne is the recognized treatment for lassitude*, but we have none on board. The good news was that the weather forecast…
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North West Passage Day 28-29 – Lady Richardson Bay
31st August 2023 – Day 28 Thursday We remain at anchor behind the spit with three “pingo” like mounds. It is a sunny day and the lee of the spit is providing calm water. Dan and I go ashore to smash up two bags of anthracite and split down some kindling. We decided to climb…
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North West Passage – Day 26 – 27 – Lady Richardson Bay
29th August 2023 – Day 26 Tuesday We remained safely at anchor while the wind howled by. I was rather tired last night and ducked out of playing “…. Head” and retired to my splendid quarter berth for the night. With no urgent need to get up, we all slept in for a while before…
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North West Passage – Days 24-25 – Camping Islands to Lady Richardson Bay
27th August 2023 – Day 24 Sunday We left Camping Island at 05:00 when it was light enough to see the sea bed. We headed towards Bernard Harbour over a flat sea and clear sky. We anchored in glorious sunshine and a very warm 8 degrees C. Anchor position was N68 degrees 46.8687′ x W…
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North West Passage – Days 22-23 – Edinburgh Island to Camping Islands
25th August 2023 – Day 22 Friday We motored towards Edinburgh Island and I spotted no more dead birds which was really good news. 26th August 2023 – Day 23 Saturday We sailed past Edinburgh Island at 02:00 in the dark. It was a shame not to see it, being one of the only high…
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North West Passage – Days 21-23 – Cambridge Bay to Camping Islands
24th August 2023 – Day 21 We moored onto a jetty which looked like it had exploded under either ice pressure or a tug forgetting to undo its strength line. Nevertheless, it was pleasant to be alongside for the first time. It makes coming and going a simple afair. It was about 02:00 in the…
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North West Passage – Day 20 – 21 – Gjoa Haven to Cambridge Bay
23th August 2023 – Wednesday We are currently motoring across Queen Maud Gulf, named after Amundsen’s boat built for the North East Passage. The light wind is typically coming straight out from our destination but the sea is calm so we are making about 4.5 kn. There are strong winds predicted later today or tomorrow…