Alluring Arcticvideo
Across the POLAR Circle to the Northernmost Point of USA. Northwest Passage pt5
30 November 2024 · 41 min · 366K views
What this video covers
A crew of four aboard a sailboat departs Nome, Alaska, to transit the Northwest Passage, carrying 850 liters of diesel to account for long distances between refueling points.1:55 Navigating north toward the Arctic Circle, the crew encounters heavy sea ice and dense fog, forcing a tactical decision to seek shelter in a poorly charted lagoon near Point Barrow, the northernmost point of the United States.23:46 Because the lagoon entrance features shifting sandbanks and is scoured annually by ice, the crew launches a dinghy to scout depths ahead of the main vessel.24:26 Using a handheld echo sounder, they successfully navigate the entrance with a draft of approximately two meters, finding protection from an approaching low-pressure system and encroaching sea ice.30:30 The crew remains anchored in the lagoon for several days as winds push ice toward the coast, blocking further progress.38:07 Scouting shallow, poorly charted entrances with a dinghy and a handheld depth sounder allows vessels with similar drafts to safely access protected lagoons in ice-prone regions.
More from Alluring Arctic
From Alluring Arctic — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.