CATRYN visits Arctic Bay settlement

CATRYN
David Rice
Tue 12 Aug 2014 12:40
The waiting for the ice further west continues, but the signs are encouraging. The recent strong winds and the warmer summer temperatures are both helping to break it up. There’s nothing unusual about the timing of the melt this summer; in fact it’s just about average for the past 10 years or so. We probably came across Baffin Bay to the Canadian Arctic a bit too early but we’re enjoying out time up here. We’ve visited  a number of beautiful inlets and historical sites, we’ve been trekking, seen a wide variety of wildlife and made some good friends. Yesterday we sailed South across Lancaster Sound to visit a settlement called Arctic Bay with a population of about 750. We can replenish our supplies here and top up the diesel. Our plans for the next few days will be influenced, as always, by the wind and the movement of the ice. It’s very likely that is will be another 10 days or so before we can make a decisive break through to the West and South. As with all boats who head in this direction we’re in a bit of a hurry for two reasons: firstly we need to get out of the Arctic before the re-freeze starts in September. Secondly, to get clear of the Bering Sea before the Autumn storms. Also, the crew on board CATRYN all have to be back home by the end of September. It was not unusual for explorers from earlier generations to spend two or three years in the Arctic, spending their winters locked in the ice. The time constraints which control our lives today would have been incomprehensible to them.
 
Today is our coldest day so far – perhaps that’s why it’s called Arctic Bay – about 5 degrees C, so full thermal underwear is going on for the first time. CATRYN is cosy and warm with the hot air heating but condensation is a bit of a problem on board. We have to frequently wipe the windows, particularly when cooking. We take it in turns to work in the galley and so far the meals produced have been very good indeed. Today we hope to replenish our dwindling supply of tea bags, biscuits and muesli and maybe even find some wifi ashore. If so, standby for some pictures!