Expedition Report, 08.56
Do we gain a day when we cross the date line? I do believe so – and certainly hope that’s the case.
The weather has calmed down, which is very good after a rather special night with a stiff breeze and lots of waves. It gets very dark at midnight now, so we do double watches: one to keep a lookout for ice while another steers the boat. It is tiring, but absolutely neccessary. We are only a single accident away from failure … we must never forget that. In such conditions we reduce our sails to a minimum, in order to control the boat and sneak ahead, more or less in the right direction until the light returns. A half moon between the clouds helped us a bit last night.
We decided to sail through the ice belt rather than around it. We are now actually in the middle of a belt of drift ice that streches from Wrangel Island southwards. In tomorrow’s report we’ll tell you more than I can now. I assure you it’s quite exiting sailing!
However, we have reached another milestone: We have just crossed the International Date Line. And of course a Big Hurrah for my mother who has a birthday today!”
Best regards,
Børge
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Update 20.23: “Just a quick note to tell you that we managed to cut through the ice field. The ice was not as thick as along the eastern shore of the Taymyr Peninsula; nonetheless it was quite difficult since we sailed throughout the night. It was very dark with heavy swells at times. Luckily the wind was rather weak. At the moment we are at 70˚25’ N, 178˚30’ W. We’re sailing northeast. It’s the best we can do against this very difficult headwind.”
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To make progress we need to use all our skills, tacking against the headwind on the Chukchi Sea.
We spent the night sailing through a large ice field. Here’s Thorleif on watch. Today we continue charting a careful course through the ice.
Weather conditions certainly do change. After leaving Pevek we watched the sunset with calm seas.
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One week ago: Stas sailing in gale winds on the East Siberian Sea. (24 Aug.)
What kind of headway are they making?
They crossed the International Dat Line just over an hour ago.
I published the striking photos while still editing the expedition report.
The international date line slopes to pass through the Bering Strait from about 67.5N 165W to 75N 180W/E. If they have travelled due east form their last report they would cross the line at about 70N 170W. Is this a reasonable estimate in the absence of Spot reports?
That’s my estimate as well.
Click my name to see map.
Seems a bit optimistic. Olav, how many hrs since their last pos?
Last pos 31.08, 08:55 CEST
If your last report is CEST they have been doing an average of over 9knts against the wind!!
If we give them an extra 12hrs they have been doing 6knts, maybe more like it. Or is it 48 hrs?
Needless to say I am a little confused.
Back to work. Ciao.
Perhaps they took 180W/E as the international date line. They speak of being in an ice field south of Wrangel Island
The Chukchi Sea will not show its most friendly face: http://is.gd/eOZVV
We enjoy shortcuts! Go directly from A to B, no matter wind direction!
The ice charts tell of VERY little ice ahead, and good news from the Canadian Ice Service which has come out with its 30 day forcast, and they expect above normal tempertures. Combined with warmer ocean waters; they don’t expect the onset of freeze up until the last week of September; and that is mostly sheltered bays.
This must be considered GOOD news for Børge & Co., bringing the “stress”level down a couple notches…
Good thing for the moon to light your way.
Gode ting for månen å lyse din vei
It is a pitty there is no good position reports.
I don’t understand: If they have crossed the date line it means that they are out ot russian waters. Looking at my map; being south of Wrangel Island they are still in this time zone. Can you enlighten me?
I’m afraid I do not have a revised position, beyond last night’s update.
You may well be right that they thought the Date Line was 180 degrees longitude.
Espen: Makes it even more interesting how far they`ve managed, when they at last “resurface”. Most likely not more than a long days trip away from Point Barrow…
300nm to Point Barrow…. At least 2 days with headwinds.