Position update 20.29 CEST: 69.78807 N, 168.32016 W – North of Point Hope. Water temperature: 9.0˚C
Position update 08.01 CEST (4 Sept): 69.66011 N, 166.08485 W – moving steadily east.
Position update 12.01 CEST (4 Sept): 69.7204 N, 164.98604 W
Position update 16.23 CEST (4 Sept): 69.91871 N, 163.91893 W
Position update 20.26 CEST (4 Sept): 70.12795 N, 162.96527 W
Position update 23.59 CEST (4 Sept): 70.3325 N, 162.10086 W
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Expedition Report, 21.16 CEST:
We are still on the way to the Alaskan coast, and are now tacking again. But we will hold this position and go straight east and wait for a new burst of southerly winds that are expected to arrive in a few hours.
The big news today is that we have left Russia and entered US waters! So now we are officially finished with the Northeast Passage, which has been an interesting but demanding exercise. Demanding because we had much more headwind than expected – and headwind is our most vulnerable direction. All other variations are ok, but we loose too much time when tacking. Our boat has performed extremely well in all other conditions, but headwind and tacking are unfortunately not the best conditions for this type of boat, since we are unable to go as high up against the wind as we would like to.
It will be interesting to see what the Northwest Passage can offer with respect to weather. Hopefully we will have better conditions there.
I take this opportunity to change my Devold woollen underwear for the first time on this trip. It is not that I really need to, but it’s nice to celebrate that we are done with the East, and feel fresh and ready for the West. It is actually an old Norwegian tradition to change underwear on special occasions. When Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen overwintered at Frans Josef Land in 1895–96, they celebrated New Year’s eve by turning their underwear inside out.
I am more fortunate since I brought two pairs.
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Best regards,
Børge
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Børge Ousland maintaining a long tradition…
Here is a photo of their last documented bath (27 June) – although rumour has it the trio has showered in their various ports-of-call. There is also a hardy Scandinavian tradition of rolling naked in the snow, but at this time we are unable to confirm whether their excursions onto the ice floes have included such activities.
Let’s see, over ten weeks … Nope. Can’t even imagine it!
La oss se, over ti uker … Nope. Kan ikke engang forestille det
How long is the day-light now? All the best for the continuous journey; when do you expect to arrive at the next stop?
The next stop is Point Barrow, where Stas is disembarking and returning to Russia. Joining the “Northern Passage” is Vincent, who sailed with Børge and Thorleif up the coast of Norway.
I have no ETA, I’m afraid. But simply put much will depend on the headwind and the crew’s ability to manoeuvre under less than favourable conditions.
The high pressure over the Beaufort Sea is rather persisting. Let’s hope it weakens next week. http://is.gd/eUpZN
Due to their “slight” delayment, they most likely will do the necessary port of call as fast as possible.
Vincent will bring some new energy to the now both bearded and “not so clean” men on board!
Hurray for the very timespanning traditions!
I learned that to “acclimatize” himself to the hostile weather in the Antarctic, Amundsen slept with all bedroom windows wide open during the winter, in Oslo! Respective or madness?!
Congratulations! To celebrate with you I’ve decided to change my underwear as well!
Smells like real men…
Now that you have made it to US waters; you will soon be in Canadian waters; and I wonder if you are aware of the legal situation with the Canadian Passage.
Canada has claim that the NWP is Canadian inland waters.
The Americans and some other countries consider these waters as an international passage.
I would hate to see your journey cut short or delayed due to bureaucratic reasons.
Do you plan on following the Canadian policy (Customs/ Transport Canada/etc) policies while traveling the Canadian North West Passage ?
Lord Soth: This situation you`re describing caused an entire stop for the more ferociuos expedition “Berserk” (http://www.angusadventures.com/expeditions/sept_07.html) a few years ago. They were were forced to end their “cruise” in the NWP, also due to other reasons than purely bureaucratic…
[...] can follow Ousland’s progress on his blog. Today, he reached American waters and changed his underpants, and we learn that changing your [...]
[...] can follow Ousland’s progress on his blog. Today, he reached American waters and changed his underpants, and we learn that changing your [...]
[...] pode acompanhar o progresso Ousland em seu blog. Hoje, ele chegou a águas americanas e mudou de cuecas, e nós aprendemos que a mudança de suas [...]
[...] the dim conditions. A touch darker and I’m not sure it would be anything but sheer terror. [Ousland via [...]
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