Category: North West Passage

8-Sept-24 Sisimiut, Greenland Calmer night on the sea. And no clock change. Yay. Currently only 2hrs behind the UK. Next clock change we are promised a 2hr extra lie in as we head back to Halifax in Canada. Arrive at the small fishing town of Sisimiut. Glorious day. But still cold. Like Ilulissat just up… Read more

7-Sept-24 Ilulissat, Greenland Slight feeling of weightlessness in the night. As the ship drops in the swell. Until body is then pressed firmly into the mattress. And repeat. All night. Clocks move forward again in the night. Another hour lost. That’s five days on the bounce now. 23hr days not good, dear reader. Reminds me… Read more

6-Sept-24 Baffin Bay Clocks move forward another hour. Four days on trot. There’s a few looking tired. Quite rough in the night. Ship creaking and groaning like an old galleon. In the swell. But. Surprisingly do manage to have a cinnarizine and wine induced sleep. For 11hrs. Having gone to bed at about 2130hrs. Like… Read more

5-Sept-24 Pond Inlet Clocks move forward one hour. Again. 23hr days not good. Wake up to steel grey skies. Steel grey water. Brew with a view as we sail close to Bylot Island. Steel grey soon gives way to azure sea. Reflecting bright blue sky. And sun. Nothing happens today. A leisurely day. Pottering. Catching… Read more

4-Sept-24 Dundas Harbour Clocks move forward again. Another hour lost. Morning brew whilst watching snow capped mountains and icebergs drift by. Scenery at last. Big difference with Arctic tundra the past few weeks. Scenic cruising into Croker Bay on the southern side of Devon Island. Glorious blue sky. Sun shining on snow. Four days of… Read more

3-Sept-24 Beechey Island 0630hrs. Bang. Shudder. What the. Bow thrusters kick in at full power. Wake from a deep slumber. Something is up. Peer out window. Wow. Memorable moment. Silky smooth sea. Sun rise. Belt of sea ice. Ship just crashed through. Sun glinting off the sea. Rush to get camera for photo. Scheduled to… Read more

2-Sept-24 Bellot Strait 10 years ago today HMS Erebus was discovered off the coast of King William Island. At last night’s briefing told to expect sea ice during the night. So might hear a crunch. But don’t worry. Not sinking. Ship is designed for eight tenths sea ice. Forecast is for five tenths. And shown… Read more

1-Sept-24 Gjoa Haven Downloaded Michael Palin’s Erebus book late last night then realised sailing through the area between where HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were discovered. HMS Erebus actually discovered 10 years ago tomorrow on 2-Sept-14. Our resident archaeologist was part of the team involved with Parks Canada and tells us that they have been… Read more

31-Aug-24 Borge Island During last night’s briefing meeting for today the Captain appeared. He was born in Borge, Norway. South of Oslo near the Swedish border. Who else was born in Borge? Roald Amundsen. In 1872. Just so happens that we shall be sailing past a tiny island called Borge. Named after Amundsen’s birthplace. Captain’s… Read more

30-Aug-24 Cambridge Bay 6hrs set aside for shore excursion to Cambridge Bay. Ah yes. Cambridge Bay. Sounds enticing. Doesn’t it. Sounds quaint. Doesn’t it. Conjures up images of the Cotswolds. Doesn’t it. Er no. Fleapit. Apparently for the past 5,000 years it’s been chosen as a place to live for its location and its resources.… Read more