Beschrijving

Since Putin started the enormous sacrifice of human lives on a war over Ukraine, the seas of the North East Passage, named by Russia as NSR, must be regarded as no-go area.
It is in 2023 not safe for Mae West to sail the NORTHEAST PASSAGE - NSR.
Mae West will take the delay for an opportunity to further discover the Arctic and stay at the door of the North East Passage until the lock falls off.

MAE WEST sailed the NORTHWEST PASSAGE in 2022

In 1977, after Amundsen and the RCMP schooner St Roch, Belgian skipper Willy de Roos sailed the Williwaw through the North West Passage. Dutch flagged S/V Williwaw was the first yacht to transit in one season.
2017 marked the 40 years anniversary of the Williwaw expedition, I wished to sail as the WILLIWAW Memorial Expedition. The Mae West shares 99% of the design DNA with the Williwaw, and realized to sail the 2017 WILLIWAW Memorial Expedition 40 years later in 2022.

NORTH WEST PASSAGE HISTORY

Belot, Bylot, Baffin, Ross, John Rae, Mc Clure, Franklin, they were all searching for the passage on the cost of many lives and crushed ships and incredible sufferings. We will search the shores for signs where the shipwrecked discoverers build their survival camps and miserably overwintered. Amundsen, after freezing up three winters made it finally to the Barents Sea. Since then some 300 sailboats have followed.

NORTH WEST PASSAGE TODAY

In spite of repeating media news of record ice melt on top of record ice melt there is more polar ice than the average city dweller can imagine. There is definitely less ice than 40 years ago during the passage of the Williwaw. Over that period the time window has grown with a few weeks longer.

The nowadays thinner ice sheet may breakup earlier and the mass of broken ice chunks may choke up crucial channels. Speculations that in the future passage may become more complicated and dangerous may growing to become true. The editions of 2014 and 2018 caused many sailors to give up.

GLOBAL WARMING / CLIMATE CHANGE

From latest ICPC report you may read that if we get climate change in reverse gear tomorrow it may take decades before to see things change. It means that there is time for breathing and thinking about solid solutions. The Mae West intents to sail to the Arctic without feeling urged into green washing. My main drive is CURIOSITY and some feeling of ACHIEVEMENT. I will report about how we get through.

CORONA RESTRICTIONS & QUARANTINING IN WILDERNESS

If quarantining restrictions may be ordered again we obey quarantine rules by sailing out into the wilderness. In 2020 and 2021 NW Passage was blocked by Canadian Government because of corona.

WANT TO PARTICIPATE ? send me a mail,
write a few words on your experience and send.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT

Adventure comes rarely without resistance: not for softies – chilly weather now and then – ice lookout - radar guard – fog – ice cold seaspray – all hands on deck.
Gain new experiences: sailing experience - responsibility, your contribution is not without commitment, ' ya can't wreck the ship ' - dedication and mindfullness - new friendships – discover unsuspected qualities to yourself.
Opportunities for M/V: full engagement for both genders, grab this opportunity.
Your captain: has been trained on 7000 m mountain peaks, in dry deserts, and more than 30,000 miles in wind and ice on Northern seas. Ready to sharing knowledge and a good cook. Only human, owner of a list of shortcomings, will never let go of your safety and well being. Speaks many languages.

HOW DOES IT WORK

Participation in my small-scale Mae West expeditions on invitation only. 
You don't need to be a sailor to fully enjoy.
Read more on MORE INFO page


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