Posts by pwsadmin

Wednesday, July 9th  1400 EST  (51o 45’N, 55o50’W): In the Strait of Belle Isle The wind is light and the seas calm, with fog that obscures the horizon and occasionally reduces visibility to less than 100 yards.  Given the lack of wind, we are motoring through the Strait of Belle Isle separating the northern tip…

Monday, July 7th  2130  (48o 44’N, 58o56’W): Off the West Coast of Newfoundland Post tropical storm Arthur passed through Port aux Basques with no more than 40 knots winds that clocked  across the harbor. Lillian strained against her dock lines and rubbed against the fenders and tires, but nothing that threatened any damage. The main…

Saturday, July 5th  (47o 34.476’N, 59o08.266’W): Port aux Basques, Newfoundland The Lillian B is currently secured to an abandoned industrial pier at the south side of Port aux Basques harbor. She has four lines running forward from the bow, two spring lines from amid ship, and three from the stern. These are the heaviest lines…

Monday, July 1st  (44o 52’N, 61o54’W): Heading towards Nova Scotia. Monday morning, July 1st, 1030.  We’ve just finished breakfast on deck as prepared by the cook of the day, Dick Hiatt:  Coffee bread, homemade jam, scrambled eggs, grilled potato slices, and spam (with a brief  tribute to those who knew it well in wars long…

Sunday, June 29th  (43o 22’N, 66o09’W): Setting Out  A very nice start. Yesterday, friends and family gathered on the dock in Rockport Maine to see us off. Thanks to all for the well-wishes, good luck talismans, books, bottles, and other encouragement for the voyage. Leaving shortly after the turning of the high tide we motored…

Planning a route through the Northwest Passage began with a study of  past attempts and passages. Historically, the Passage was not  successfully transited until Amundsen in 1903-1906, preceded by several failed attempts.  The most haunting of those early attempts  was Franklin’s  fatal voyage in 1845-1848.  We would visit graves of Franklin’s  crew during our own…

My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Sitner,  told the class  that there was no Northwest passage. At least that’s the way I remember it.  I probably should have paid better attention. She was teaching us about Lewis and Clark but I missed the distinction. In my mind, I was convinced there was no waterway  stretching from one…

The following is an updated journal on the attempted 2014 passage of the Northwest Passage by  the sailing vessel Lillian B. Lillian B. in Bylot Bay 2014 – Photo by Dave Johanson Table of contents: Planning The arctic melts open Planning the route The boat Avoiding Ice Clothing Communication Food Fuel Navigation Power Water Weather…