Evening July 16 David Hempleman-Adams Expedition leader 20.30 UTC 23.30 Local Time. Murmansk
Unquestionably overall we will see less ice but ironically not in the areas we are starting from. In fact the Kara sea (north of Siberia) which is traditionally full of ice at this time is open. But the Laptev sea (further East) is solid. Solid right up to the beach. This could be because less multi year ice means more thinner first year ice which is the stuff that floats with the currents and can block the channels.
At the moment we could speed through the north west passage now if we could get there. The sea ice there has really receded. Maybe when we do get there it will be frozen again. Such is life ! And of course if it was that easy everyone would do it ! I find myself with a constant internal conflict. I want clear ice to sail but of course if I do sail around then as we have said it goes to prove that we have real problems with the planet. But I want to succeed in sailing round because in that way the expedition manages to highlight the problem. So the only answer this evening, another Vodka.