From Phil

 

Dai has made the tough decision to pull out of this years attempt on the North West passage, one that was not made lightly and with a heavy heart supported by all of us. In the game of chess with the ice we played everything right, we were, indeed are, at the right position for when the passage through opens, however the passage is not playing by the rules established during recent years, a large crucial part of it is still blocked with ice.

 

Statistics say it will open sometime during the next few weeks however from then on its not a game of chess but a game of chance and the deck is getting more and more stacked against us as the days advance.

 

The crunch point is a place called Barrow Point on the north Alaskan coast it is here that sometime in the autumn that the ice pushed out of the Artic ice pack by seasonal storms first touches the mainland once it does, again statistically, that is it the coast is closed down for the winter. Again statistically this can be any time from mid September to the end of October the gamble is therefore once the the passages at this end become navigable will we make Barrow Point before that happens. For Dai and ‘Catryn’ wintering over in the passage is not an option the damage and deterioration to the boat being the main consideration even if lifted out plus many other expenses. So unlike the few remaining boats that are waiting for a transit the hand against has an extra loading.

 

At the present time we are in Port Leopold (Just a bay sheltered from all directions but the south) at the north end of Prince Regent Inlet. It is about a days sail from here to the entrance Bellot Strait the strategic narrow passage to Franklin Strait and then Larsen Sound and on through the passage pushing on down there we are at risk of the ice closing behind us and there seems to be quite a bit of it around. Franklin and Larsen are still heavily iced up. This is not now going to melt unless there is a miraculous heat wave (non forecast) and we are experiencing temperatures of around freezing. The only thing that would help us is an easterly blow that will clear it away to the west (again non forecast).  So Barrow Point is probably 2 weeks away with a run clear of ice and adverse weather at top speed for ‘Catryn’ and thus the question arises how much of a gamble do you want to make or to quote Clint Eastwood “Are you feeling lucky punk” (apologies if misquoted). And thus it is decided the gamble is not worth it the cards are stacked against us.

 

So as i write the engine has started and we are about to up anchor and head east and south destination not yet finalised but first stop Pond Inlet and the down Baffin Island and either across to Nuuk in Greenland or down to Newfoundland keep an eye on us.

 

Phil