MO IS THROUGH THE ICE!
August 19, 2019
1845 local
70 32S 97 27W
Larsen Sound
The Arctic
Just a quick note to report that Mo is through the ice and sailing fast on a N wind for Cambridge Bay, 235 miles SW.
I have been pushing to get to Alioth’s position for two days. She has a busted gear box and can’t make more than three knots under power. She has been hove to at the head of our last major ice plug waiting for an escort as she’d have to sail through, a tricky business.
We’ve all been sweating bullets over this last 30 miles of ice, and for four days I’ve been underway and hand steering for 18 to 20 hours a day through 3 – 5/10ths ice to get here. Only a few hours sleep a night this last week.
As it turns out, today was a piece of cake. We saw huge ice floes the size of city blocks but with wide lanes in between. Alioth and another boat, Mandregore, sailed downwind without trouble with Mo bringing up the rear under power just in case.
We got underway at 2pm and by 6:30pm we were in open water.
One big chapter in the Figure 8 is closed. One long chapter, the 4,000 mile slog home, remains.
Huge thanks to Victor Wejer, our ice guide, for his help and tough-love encouragement these last days. Victor was awake and communicating at all hours of the day–weather in the morning, ice charts in the afternoon and pep talks at 3am. It was a great pleasure to have Victor at my back!
The story will out and so will lots of photos but not today. Today, a beer and some sleep while Mo flies S toward Clarence Islands and around the last ice tongue; then we gybe SW for Cambridge Bay and onward toward home!
Tuesday 20th August pm Eastern Time … Following the tracker with bated breath – updating the lat long distance to Cambridge Bay every few hours – and looking at the favorable winds …. 100 miles or so to Cambridge Bay at this hour! Good luck to Alioth … !!!
Amazing!
Congrats!!!!
Thank you for taking us along on your adventure!!
Wow – so impressed but angry that we can’t get to San Francisco in time to celebrate with you. Can you just slow down a little and stop in a few places along the way south? Sail carefully but speed on and give yourself a few pats on the back.
Fantastic news!
SO EXCITING. We’ve been following you’re every turn on the tracker and are simply thrilled you are through the ice. It’s not done yet, but bring her on home… we’ll be waiting for you.
Hurray!!! You sound so relieved, and so are all of us following you!!! Thanks for the update with no sleep and waiting for that beer.
I’m so grateful! Congratulations!
Yeah, baby! You taught that ice a lesson it won’t soon forget! You da man, Captain Bergdodger!
Blame Canada! Peel Sound makes a lap of the Southern Ocean look easy. Congratulations!
Brilliant, congratulations Randall and Mo. Safe onward passage.
Congratulations. Even I’m breathing a sigh of relief. Your writing is that good, not to mention your abilities and perseverance and audacity.
Randall!!! Congratulations, my friend! We were holding our breath here at the Crow’s Nest. Can’t wait to meet you at the bridge and escort you home!!! Continued safe sailing!
Congratulations and well done on transit through Peel. Knowing how difficult it was as part of a crew of 5 in 2014 I’m in awe of your achievement.
Bravo Randall, i have been following along on your journey and this past couple of days i have waiting with great anticipation. Bravo, as before thanks for taking us along