Nicolson Yacht Services
  • Home
  • Testimonials
  • Biography
  • North West Passage
  • Blog
  • Contact Me

Worst ice in 89 years, cabin fever and $10 loaves of bread...

7/8/2013

3 Comments

 
Picture
$14.99 for a 10lb bag of potatoes!
Yesterday PM was the first time I realised that actually this expedition may be halted by the ice… I really didn't think that after 89 years the ice would be the worst in all that time (allegedly), but early this morning I was looking at the ice chart and it really is impassable for a stretch of 350-400 miles.


Dodo's Delight remains anchored 2 nm East of Point Hope. The weather forecast continues to predict northerly winds for the coming 5-7 days, which in turn is pushing ice south. Things aren't looking good. Communications with David Scott Cowper, aboard "Polar Bound" located further south in Dutch Harbour confirms our fears that we are running out of time (Scott Cowper was the first person to navigate the NW Passage single handed and is another experienced Arctic Explorer with a purpose designed and built motor yacht for the Arctic elements).

The open ice pack season in the Arctic is shorter to the West than it is in the East. We have a 1000 mile passage to make with no real cover and are very reliant on favourable winds. How long can we sit here, restlessly wanting to move north then East? Once we have made the dash across the north of Alaska things will become easier. Places to run to in inclement weather and from 125 degrees west the coast changes from an uninspiring tundra to a maze of inlets, islands, navigable sounds and thinner ice.

The normal navigable passage season is in August and September, and as we are basically treading water every day that passes makes success less likely - at least in 2013. Whilst the past two decades have seen the ice melt increase in longevity year on year, 2013 had been to date a reversion of the trend. Many are talking about it being a "bad ice year". 

We are in communication with a couple of other boats attempting the passage both from our side (the West) and from the Atlantic. All are concerned. At present the ice is between 5 & 7/10ths from Barrow East for a distance of approx. 350 miles - impassable by most yachts, including Dodo's Delight.

Last night we had a crew discussion on options. If we get a break, we potentially could get to 135 degrees west before the winter bites back. At this longitude the Mackenzie river runs inland into the canadian Yukon territory and c. 120 miles inland there lies the town of Inuvik - a potential wintering hide. However the Mackenzie river has a complex outfall into the Arctic Ocean with many lagoons and tributaries with limited accurate charts. Just getting up the river would cause challenges.

So for now we sit and wait, fingers and toes crossed that we get a consistent Northerly.

Whilst we are protected, and have now found good holding (for the anchor), cabin fever is now on the cards. Five people, all with very different characters, on a small boat which is damp, condensation running everywhere, food staples being tinned varieties and the constant movement is bound to bring friction. We did buy two loaves of bread from the Native Store in Point Hope yesterday - US$10 a loaf! Our living area is little bigger than a garden shed or small bathroom.

3 Comments
Fred Byrne
7/8/2013 09:58:41

I would love to be with you but alas I'm now far too ancient. Two hour watches strike me as very short which makes it difficult to get a good deep sleep! I, like you, am very doubtful as to success this year. The Beaufort Sea enyrance is blocked at present and instead of getting better it seems to be worsening.
There are 4 guys rowing along the southern shore attempting the passage. What a lee shore ouch!.

Reply
Nick Paul
8/8/2013 06:35:32

Hi guys

Not good news to hear of the current ice situation! If the weather allows the chance to progress and make some way at the earliest that would be great.

You have to think about others worse off as far as cabin fever and not let it 'bite' - I see there is a two man kayak making the Passage - and there is a one man row boat too!

Hope all goes well and there is a change for the better - and no more blockages, in any sense!

Nick and Helena

Reply
Graham P Davis
26/8/2013 02:21:08

Is it possible that your comment about this being the worst ice in the area in 89 years could be the result of a communication problem somewhere along the line? Could it have been 8 to 9 years? My own assessment from charts is that ice conditions in the NW passage could be the worst for 8 years. My experience in producing ice charts forty-and-more years ago is that conditions in the 60s and early 70s were far worse than they are now.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture



    Richard Nicolson - Sailing West to East across the North West Passage in aid of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

    Copyright of Richard Nicolson, 2013.  You may not reproduce, republish, modify, archive, distribute, store or exploit the Content without prior written consent. 

    These Terms and/or your use of the Site shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law and the English Courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute which may arise.

    Picture

    Sponsors

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    October 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.