Cambridge Bay to Gjoa Haven

Originally posted on Samantha Sails:
August 6, at 6:30 p.m. we motored off the dock at Cambridge Bay and made our way to Gjoa Haven. The weather was perfect for our shakedown sail – clear skies with winds at about 15 knots on our tail, and forecast to remain so for 36 hours. The ice…

Thoughts from Jenny Lind Island

I have time to write while we are here on anchor In Jenny Lind Bay, which is amazing. One of the problems with being on the go is that after awhile, you forget how to stop. That’s a good description of me for the past three years. Since setting out for the Northwest Passage, literally […]

Captains Log

Captains log. Friday. 08/08/2014 0018 hrs. We have been underway continually since departing Cambridge Bay, Wednesday evening. The weather has been stable, cold and blowing from the NW 10-20 mph the entire time, besides a temporary SW shift on Thursday. It is near or below freezing outside right now and I’ve just come off shift. […]

Eastbound From Cambridge Bay, following 2 weeks of preparation.

Its 0200 hours on 08/05/2014 in Cambridge Bay. I feel thrashed. But my checklist says “Blog Post,” so here we go. Since Samantha and I got here, we have gone flat out. Fixing, repairing, cleaning and walking back and forth to town for cell service. EMPIRICUS sat just as I left her, perched perfectly on […]

TRADING FIRE FOR ICE

TRADING FIRE FOR ICE July 10, When fellow sailor and explorer Mark Nelson, dropped me off at the airport in Juneau. I took a deep breath. After checking my 3 enormous bags in, and passing through security, I sat in a chair and tried to relax. This was it. If I did not have it […]

Shaking loose of the grid.

At this moment, from my warm, cozy chair on this Alaska Airlines jet, I am looking down at the floor of this world. I lack for no comfort here. Hot coffee was just served right to my chair. I am not even required to throw away my own trash. When they take my trash, the […]

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 […]