Aventura IV’s Logs

Northwest Passage Gate Opens

location 57′ 10N, 51′ 43W

Today, 31 August, is exactly 3 months since Aventura left London bound
for Arctic Canada and the Northwest Passage. Since then we have covered
over 6000 miles and are now bound for St Johns in Newfoundland, having
decided to abandon our attempt to transit the Northwest Passage due to
persistent unfavourable ice conditions.

Drina at anchor in Graham Harbour, Devon Island

Drina at anchor in Graham Harbour, Devon Island

By a happy coincidence today we received a message from Australian yacht
Drina that they had successfully transited Bellot Strait. This is
excellent news for the Blue Planet Odyssey as Drina’s owner Michael
Thurston had agreed to take over the Blue Planet Odyssey baton when
Suilven and Aventura decided to turn around.

In the last 48 hours there has been a steady traffic through Bellot
Strait by both eastbound and westbound boats. With the exception of Peel
Sound, which is still blocked by ice, the eastern area of the Northwest
Passage has finally opened, making it possible for westbound boats to
proceed towards Gjoa Haven.

Michael Thurston and Emily Penn

Michael Thurston and Emily Penn

Both Suilven and Aventura had attempted to transit the Northwest
Passage along the Northern Route of the Blue Planet Odyssey. The stated
aim of this round the world rally is to raise awareness of climate
change. Albeit late, the opening of the Northwest Passage does prove
that climate change is happening, as this phenomenon and the steady
shrinking of the Arctic polar ice cap are indicators that the global
climate is changing.

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