UTC 21.30 Beaufort Sea. Left Point Barrow a UTC 17.00 29th Aug; a few hours ago. (Having arrived less than 24 hours previous – UTC 21.30 28 Aug)
Yesterday we actually had a hard night sailing in the dark into Point Barrow. Poor Mrs. Irish and Denis on his last watch had a large swell, with lots of ice that was not on any Russian or Canadian chart. So a big detour. Then on my early watch, we saw the first sight of land. Really lovely to see the grey buildings of Point Barrow getting closer. We skirted around a big loop to come into a more protected lagoon, with the keel up we had 0 m on the screen when we anchored. The finish line. What a huge relief.
The good lady Northabout had done us proud. Jarlath Cunnane and his able team can be justly proud, that they built a craft that I think is the only one to have done the North East Passage in both Directions plus even taking the first Irish lady around and the youngest person.
But we have so many other people to also thank. Cheryl Lingard, Nick Martin and Nikki Webster have spent 2 years of their lives organising the trip so far. Frederik Paulsen, Raisa Kolosova, all the incredible help from Sovfracht company, especially Chairman of the Board, Dmitry Purim, General Director of the Sovfracht East Aleksandr Khrustalev, and Ivan Okorokov, who is the head of maritime in the Sovfracht.
And last, but not least, my incredible crew mates who survived in each others company for 40 days. We did it. When Ros left the boat in Point Barrow to go home, I promised her a lovely cup of tea in England. And our able Comrade Denis who also left the boat in Point Barrow; I promised him a Vodka in Moscow.
Now to, sleep, before our next hurdle.
David