Leap to Summers Harbor, ice around the corner

We leave Bernard Harbor at 0600 in the morning. Was it smart to sleep while there was usable wind out? Not sure. But I enjoyed the uninterrupted stress-free night.

I can’t help but notice that the theme of the journey is changing. While initially we had plenty of time because the ice wouldn’t allow for a quicker progression anyways, now it is more about covering distance and making best use of the wind while avoiding ice. The distances to Nome, Alaska, and then on to the Aleutian Islands are intimidating. 1,350 NM or 2,500 km to Nome and then another 1,000 NM or 1,800 km to a potential winter harbor in Kodiak. And all that with the end of the summer season looming around the corner and the notorious winter storm depressions will come.

Leaving Bernard Harbor, we have the minimal goal of reaching Pearce Point Harbor and Summers Harbor as an extended goal - weather permit. Indeed it looks like Pearce Point is going to be all we can do for a long time. Just as we get within an hour of Pearce Point, the weather clears up and we change plans to continue to Summers Harbor - the is strategically preferable location.

Summers Harbor is at the edge of the ice field that separates us from Tuktoyaktuk. From an anchorage close to the ice edge, we will be ready to seize windows as they open up. Satellite ice imagery and wind forecasts are what we look at. 2/10 ice coverage is something we can manage. Above that, I am not eager to try. Again, the goal is to make it boring.

Well, not too boring either! As we get close to our destination we pass a vast ice floe, which just calls for a visit. We carefully dock the boat frontally against its edge, both engines in gear, the rudder locked such that it just compensates for the light wind on the beam. We resist the temptation of jumping onto the ice - even if only barely so.

The log book shows that we have covered another 274 miles westwards. We progressed from the 114th longitude to the 125th. Nome is on the 170th. The anchor holding is good. I hope we will have a relaxing day at anchor while the weather does its thing and passes through!Read more