Chelyuskin,Vilkitsky Strait, Laptev Sea Anchored for night against by shore against some fast ice

near MYS (Cape) Chelyuskin,Vilkitsky Strait, Laptev Sea Anchored for night by shore against some fast ice)  21:38 UTC 9 Aug 

A mixed bag of emotions today. sailing in strong winds through the night up the coast. Its amazing that just 10 days ago this very same area was solid ice. It then went from open ocean to sporadic ice of 3/10ths  With careful helming, you could get through it or around it. Whilst Nikolai’s birthday preparations were being made, we slowly crept north, various old Russian markers on the land could be seen through the dull sky, luckily we had no fog, even though the water temp was now near 1 degree, with the outside temp not much higher. The big difference was there was no wind, so it actually felt balmy. Gradually, the cape came into view, with a myriad of huts and antennas, this is still a Polar station, but also marks the most Northern spot of land of mainland Europe and Asia. At this point, every man and his dog turned up,  firstly a convoy going East, another going West. A freighter resupplying the Polar station, and our old hydrographic friends from our blue lagoon days.

So Nikolai’s birthday and passing from the Kara Sea into the Laptev Sea was celebrated with gusto.

I have a big superstition, never drink champagne on an expedition. To be fair, it was Russian Prosecco, I didn’t mind celebrating a birthday, but I was not going to test the Gods and toast a passing of a milestone.

So we left the cape. We were desperate for new Ice charts. We got them,  they showed us we could sail up past Chelyuskin in open sea !! but then the Laptev sea was still blocked for us. BUT we were on a roll, we tried to get as far as we could, but the ice was so thick , you could have skied faster. So, we had to retrace our route. We are now anchored by the shore against some fast ice.

So tomorrow the weather forecast is winds from the South, that should take the ice away from the land. We can then move down the coast, and hopefully make our way East.

I keep telling Ben, who thinks its a great hoot to get stuck, or see no danger in anything, beware what you wish for! Meanwhile, I will sleep easier now we have past that bogeyman of furthest north, but sleep with one eye open with Polar Bears smelling our smelly socks, as we are parked on his territory.

David