Bob Shepton[color=rgb(29, 33, 41)][font=system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif]It is with some trepidation that I feel I must comment on recent events in the North West Passage. I may have been through myself, twice, but in no way does that make me an authority – nobody is.[/font][/color]
[color=rgb(29, 33, 41)][font=system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif]It was a bad ice year in the Arctic. An Ovni 345 moored to an ice floe in the Fort Ross/Bellot Strait area, a place of ferocious tidal currents, and was carried into the narrow Bellot Strait where another ice floe came alongside and squeezed the boat to death. They stepped onto an i[/font][/color]ce floe before it sank, but apparently without a tent, the liferaft which could have acted as a tent, sleeping bags or any equipment. Boats still in the vicinity tried to rescue them but even a powerful tug could not reach them because of the amount and movement of ice. They were eventually rescued from the floe after some 11 hours by a helicopter
It is not for me to be judgemental, and you can never really tell a situation unless you are there yourself, but it would appear from the accounts that the crew were comparatively inexperienced, well, that could be alright, but also that the boat was ill prepared or at least ill equipped for arctic regions.
I strongly believe in a philosophy of risk, it is necessary for our society and for our own mental and physical well being. But I also believe risk must be managed. Not done away with, but managed , prepared for, and considered effectively beforehand.
Writing to fellow OCC members I am writing to the converted who would not consider such a passage without due care and attention, and planning. But what I am really concerned about is the danger that such events may persuade the Canadian authorities to make rules and regulations governing the transit of the passage, even registration and inspection of boats beforehand. That would ruin the whole spirit of the challenge and adventure. Anything we can do to obviate such a restriction would be beneficial.
At least the Arctic has reminded us once again that it is still entirely unpredictable, and demands in any year the care and attention that is its due.
Having written all that, I am reminded that we only just got out ourselves in 2013, so I am in no position to judge.
[color=#1d2129]
[/color]
Simon Currin[font=inherit] [/font][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit]Like you I do hope that these events do not trigger regulation. One cruise boat went aground 300 miles south of Fort Ross last week and all passengers were transferred to it’s sister ship. [/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][font=system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif][color=rgb(29, 33, 41)][font=inherit]With the small boats waiting at Fort Ross for the Bellot Strait[/font][/color][/font][font=system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif][color=rgb(29, 33, 41)][font=inherit][font=inherit] to open there were two cruise liners. Should one of these get into serious difficulties then I fear the regulators would pounce.[/font]
[font=inherit]Of the three boats that remained at Fort Ross after the sinking of Anahita all are now in retreat. One had found clear water in Lancaster Sound and the other two are facing challenging ice conditions to escape although slightly easier than they were a day ago.[/font][/font][/color][/font][font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
Matt Rutherford[/font] [/font][font=system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif][color=rgb(29, 33, 41)][font=inherit]I helped them save their boat two weeks before that in pond inlet. I warned them about daily pack ice going through the anchorage and they left and got a hotel for the night. At 5am lots of pack ice came into the anchorage. I ran up the hill and found[/font][/color][/font][font=system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif][color=rgb(29, 33, 41)][font=inherit][font=inherit] them at the hotel. By the time we ran back to their boat heavy pack ice was trying to pull their anchor and push there unattended boat out to sea. I helped them free the boat and they were very thankful I ran up and found them. Very nice guys but also very inexperienced. Who leaves their boat on anchor to get a hotel when there is so much pack ice and current? I feel bad for them, I doubt they had insurance[/font][/font][/color][/font][font=inherit]
[/font][font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
Jenny Crickmore ThompsonJenny and 3 others manage the membership, moderators, settings and posts for Ocean Cruising Club.[/font] [font=inherit]All such valid comments. Truth is that even if the globe is warming, nature is still in charge! Like you all I trust over zealous cruiseships and inexperienced cruisers don't spoil our special spots for all.[/font]
[/font][font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
Richard Nicolson[/font] [font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit]Well said [/font]
Bob Shepton[font=inherit]. And great to have given assistance [/font]
Matt Rutherford[font=inherit]... I remember the hotel in Pond Inlet... we used it for wifi and little else![/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
Chris Jones[/font] [font=inherit]Well said Bob. Cruisers who don't think things through properly can cause massive and lasting problems for those who follow - ie Galapagos and Chagos etc[/font]
[/font][font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
David Bains[/font] [font=inherit]I sympathise with Canadian authorities, who after all have to pick up the pieces. Altho it's not imposs that ice conditions will worsen in future years, which will "solve" the problem anyway!! But I admit to being a warm water sailor, altho trying hard to understand climate cycles.[/font]
[/font][font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
Bob Shepton[/font] [font=inherit]It is worth pointing out that the Canadians are under no obligation whatsoever to rescue us if we get into difficulty,. They are only doing so at the moment out of the custom of the sea. An added incentive to take care.[/font][/font][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
Ken Montgomery[/font] [font=inherit]Well written[/font]
[/font][/font][/font]
[color=rgb(97, 103, 112)][font=inherit]
Bob Shepton shared a
link.[/font][/color]
I[color=rgb(29, 33, 41)][font=system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif]t has been suggested that I add this to what I said a couple of days ago as something still more positive that we can do: Should members hear of or meet yachtsmen planning on venturing to these waters please do point them towards some of the reliable sources of information available. Both the RCC Pilotage Foundation high latitude publications (Arctic and Northern Waters and Cape Horn and Antarctic Waters) provide information about preparing a vessel for such a voyage and [/font][/color]the former gives invaluable advice about sources of weather and ice information for those heading NW. They also make available the Yacht Routing Guide for the NW Passage from Victor Wejer, available as a free download from the website
https://rccpf.org.uk/pilots/136/Arctic---Northern-Waters. Nothing that we can do will remove an element of risk from such a voyage – but we can help those going there to be well-prepared.
[font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
RCCPF Pilot - Arctic & Northern Waters[/font]
[font=inherit]A major new work: RCC Pilotage Foundation Arctic and Northern Waters is an essential cruising guide to Faroe, Iceland, Greenland, the Northwest and Northeast Passages and their approaches. The old RCCPF pilot Faroe, Iceland and Greenland has been updated and incorporated into this new volume. This n...
[/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
Simon Currin[/font] [font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit][font=inherit]Here is a link to Atka night sailing in the sea ice in Lancaster Sound during it’s safe retreat from the Bellot Strait [/font]
https://www.facebook.com/ProjetATKA/videos/237100717148047/[/font][/font][/font][/font]
[/font]
[/font]
[/font]
[/font]
[/font]
[font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
[font=inherit]
[/font]
[/font]
[/font]
[/font]
edited by simoncurrin on 9/5/2018