Still Here

It's been months since I last wrote.  So much to say, but right now we are just trying to get AMARA out of Panama and on her way to Belize where Martin, John, Chris and Dunbar will be meeting Lily and me.

We are planning on taking her up the coast of Mexico and then on up to Ft. Lauderdale.

Here is a fun video that Chris posted of AMARA in Shelter Bay in Panama.

Martin at the top of the mast of AMARA.

We haven't been on AMARA for a year, so when Martin boarded her last week, he saw that there was much to do.  Finally they were able to pull her out and get going only to figure out 3 hours later that they had gotten bad fuel.  UGH!  So they had to turn around and head back to Shelter Bay. This seems to be the demise of AMARA.

I'll be sure to get back to this blog this week to update you on what has been going on these past few months.  Martin has been up to a lot getting ready for his sail across the Pacific in March.  Pretty exciting.  Right now, it's late and I have been up trying to get parts for AMARA that I will be bringing down with me when we meet Martin and crew in Belize.  Wish me luck!

Landfall Greenland!

This just in!  I got a text from Martin this morning and the boat is now docked and they are in Nuuk, Greenland!  They DID IT!  Time to celebrate!

Now to get him home...

Arctic Circle? Check!

Aventura's route while crossing the Arctic Circle

Early this morning, Martin sent me a text saying that they had officially crossed the Arctic Circle.  This is important because many judge a Northwest Passage crossing to be successful, only if they have crossed the symbolic gateway.

They have officially sailed 3728 miles.  WOW!  That's a lot of miles.

See if you can make out an Iceberg (a rather large one) in this thick fog.

Martin called me often this past week saying that the fog was so thick that there was no way that one could be distracted while on watch because the fog was so soupy, making the crew stay on their toes while on lookout for icebergs.  After seeing the photo above, I can now understand why he was so concerned.

Martin relayed to me that there was lots of ice, flat seas and no wind.  Martin reported that these icebergs were quite large and at one point (and probably due to a little boredom) the crew started trying to make out what the shape of each iceberg looked like. Comparing them to animals and people.  I am sure it helped pass some time and make it a little lighter.  In spite of the light hearted conversation, there was still continual concern because they could only see a boat length in front of them.

It was reported in Jimmy Cornell's site, "that at one point, the air temperature dropped to -2 and the seas temperature was +1.5 and that is what cause the thick fog.  Lots of "anxious moments" making the night watch especially not fun."  The radar did help to a certain extent but only for the larger "proper icebergs".

This is especially cause for hair standing on end, because one bad chunk of an iceberg could cause serious damage even to a boat "as strongly built" as Aventura.

Martin filling the jugs with gas and admiring the icebergs.

Martin reported to me that they took many pictures of amazingly large icebergs.

Like us,  Jimmy also has a Parasailor spinnaker and they had asked that Jimmy send them some photos of these beautiful sails while hoisted.  No better time than this morning as there was finally some wind.

Martin and Jimmy in the dinghy taking the photos of
Aventura while Chris and Dunbar agreed to sail her past the Iceberg.

That is some iceberg!  Yikes!

Martin reported that while in the dinghy, the water bounced up and down in the swell and he said that he thought that this was the first dinghy to ever brave the Davis Strait.  Too funny.

The crew is now only 100 miles from Nuuk as of 4:09 pm MST.  They are almost there!  Once they arrive, Martin will leave having accomplished his goal and head home to us here in Utah.

We are counting the minutes until he arrives...

—Kym

(Photo cred: jimmycornell www.cornellsailing.com)

Almost to Nuuk

photo cred: www.cornellsailing.com)

I have been talking with Martin, on his satellite phone,  pretty much regularly lately.  One, because we can (although it costs us big time).  Two, because both of us are ready to get back to normal life and be with one another.  Every time Martin calls, he talks as if his mouth is half frozen shut.  In our conversations, he tells me about dodging large iceburgs, daily life on the boat and what his plans are for his next adventure... Yep! another adventure.

When Internet is available for Martin, this is what my
day looks like.  Skyping with Martin.  Yahoo!

Tonight we talked about the fact that after they had gone through the Bellot Strait, and reached the eastern Arctic, they still had 1400 nm to go to get to Nuuk, Greenland.  A daunting task.  However, tonight... TONIGHT they only had 40 miles to go.  Aventura was making amazing time and they were going to make it to Greenland by Monday.  We had originally planned that Martin wouldn't be home until mid-September, but because they have been "sailing" (pun intended) through the Passage, they have made record time.  So, I got on the phone with Delta and booked my man a flight and am going to have him home by 1:30 pm on Wednesday.  How amazing is that?

It will be so nice to have Martin home soon that I can barely breathe.

More updates to come.

—Kym

The Bellot Strait

Lady luck has been on Martin's side.   Yesterday, Aventura was able to pass through the Bellot Strait. It was sticky up to the point of crossing through because the ice reports were confirming lots of ice!

Aventura's Route (in Blue) through the Bellot Strait.  

In fact, I got an email from Jimmy.  In his email to me, he explained that making it through the Bellot Strait is, in comparison, much like the elation one would feel in reaching the summit of Everest.  Not an easy feat to say the least.  After crossing through the Strait, Aventura came out into the Eastern Arctic with little to no more obstacles in their path while heading for Greenland.  They are making great time and will be to Greenland in no time!

Ice patches throughout the Strait.

From the photo above, you can see the sporadic and rather large patches of ice that Aventura had to navigate through while doing her crossing.

More ice.

The Bellot Strait, as explained by Jimmy, it is only "negotiated on a favorable tide, so we timed our arrival at it's western end to coincide with low water at the start of the ebb."  There was still lots of ice to navigate through it but they got through it smoothly without much complication.

According to Jimmy's blog, he said that, "...As they approached the eastern end of the Strait, the current reached 8 knots and Aventura was able to do the crossing in 90 minutes."  A great time to get through one of the most complicated waterways in the North West Passage.

I am so happy this part of the trip is over with.  Before Martin left, he studied and studied the maps and ice charts worried that this area could cause them to have to turn the boat around and head back from where they came.  He is so relived that this part of the trip is behind them.

More updates to follow.

–Kym

(Photo creds: jimmycornell www.cornellsailing.com)