A loaded boat, a leaky rudderpost and a weary bilge pump.

During the 2013 voyage, Empiricus carried a heavier load than she ever has (so far as I know, that is.) Usually her weight in the slings sits at 35000 pounds. This year, when hauling out in Cambridge Bay, the crane recorded her at 38000 pounds. That’s minus a crew of five, all their personal gear […]

Blades of the Northwest Passage

Blades of the Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage is a fascinating place, to say the least. I remember reading numerous accounts of early exploration, specifically Roald Amundsen’s account of this place. He was Captain of the Gjoa. The first boat to sail through the Northwest Passage. Amunsdsen was successful in this for many reasons. I […]

Beginning our lives together in Nunavut.

Another chapter unfolds in our exploration of the Arctic, as I resign my position in Prudhoe Bay Alaska. Samantha, Steven, the dog “Bruce” and myself will set up camp, smack dab in the middle of the Northwest Passage. The story of how Samantha and I met is amazing and will only be done justice by […]

Safe Home

It’s just past 5 AM, here on the North Slope. I just got off nightshift, where I work as a mechanic in the winter. I’m tired. Yet I sit down this morning to write. Simply because what I have to say will not write itself. Personally I believe that the best thing we can pass […]

Sharing with young people about the Northwest Passage

Sharing with young people is one of the most satisfying opportunities in life. I am thankful for opportunities like this. http://sewardcitynews.com/2013/10/empericus-embarks-on-seward-middle-school/

Resonate on the bright side.

“Resonate” -to produce or be filled with a deep, full reverberating sound. We hear about all the ripple effects, don’t we? We hear the gossip and the drama. We as humans seem to love drama. Drama and blame. I have a theory about that. The theory goes that we tend to take the wide path […]

The “Crown Jewel” of the Northwest Passage

For hundreds of years, men have set their sights on the Northwest Passage. Motivations were primarily trade, beyond the passage. Then as time went on, fur trades were developed in the Arctic as a way to fund further exploration and or at least justify a presence here. When Roald Amundsen made the passage a reality, […]

Enjoying The Process works on land as well.

When I decided to end the 2013 season in Cambridge bay, I was set on the decision as the wisest option. However, this left me somewhat unsettled inside. I desired some satisfaction at the end of this journey and quite honestly, some purpose. The claws of life on land, hooked each one of us in […]

A surreal passage to a melting Island.

08/05/13, 0200 hrs. Today has been amazing. After sailing wing and wing under the drifter for a while, the wind died down to slick flat water We were motoring in flat water, just as Isaac’s shift came to an end. A gentle breeze came to life, barely rippling the face of the water. We trimmed […]

Morale afloat.

Morale aboard. 07/24/13 Kotzebue Sound Morale is everything afloat. There are unavoidable conditions at sea, which will wear a crew down. Kill Morale or upset the rhythm of a crew. These hazards can be mitigated but not eliminated. Many times we confuse the 2 and our tunnel vision assigns avoidable hazards into the unavoidable column. […]

EMPIRICUS EMBARKS

A site dedicated to purpose filled life, exploration under sail and the philosophy behind it all

ARTICLES BY CAPT. OSBORN