A totally useless Magnetic Compass and the man who ate his boots

N68 44 W108 15 pressure 105 water temp 7.1C air 3C 03.30 UTC 8th Sept, local time 20.30 7th Sept

A mixed day, my first watch this morning at 8 am was delightful, no wind, so sails  down and calm waters. Progressing past various islands in the Coronation Gulf, lovely passing the coastline and making distance.

On my watch this evening, it’s a proper Winters evening as we move slowly into Dease Strait, the wind has returned, but smack on the nose. I also think the wind is being funnelled through this narrow strait, creating a very choppy sea. Our speed has halved, which is miserable.

Apparently we have this for a full 12 hours, then it should turn, so we can use the sails. It’s much darker tonight, dark clouds, but also moving East will make a difference to earlier nights – I think.

The Magnetic Compass is dancing all over the place and totally useless here. Getting the influence of the magnetic pole.

So tonight we passed Turnagain Pt. , Franklin named this point as the furthest East on his first overland expedition of 1819-21. On their return journey from this expedition the explorers suffered great hardship and starvation, surviving on lichen and ultimately eating their boots. Franklin became known throughout England as ‘ The man who ate his boots’

Thank you to my Irish friend Jarlath for the historical input.

David