Delayed update from Ben Gray and his sons Brad and Kevin aboard Idlewild in the Northwest Passage, with URLs added by GxK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gjøa We left Cambridge Bay at 23:25 August 23 and arrived in Gjoa Haven Aug. 25 at 19:30. Beautiful harbor, very small with a very narrow, long entrance. Radio reception was very poor last night at our usual network call at 18:30. We did learn that 'Fine Tolerance' will anchor at Gladman Point, 'Minke 1' at Hat Island and on the other side, 'Cloud Nine' an American boat and Knut in 'Jotun Arctic' a Norwegian boat are at or near Fort Ross which is the west entrance to Bellot Straight. http://cgdi.gc.ca/ccatlas/ghaven/mappage/mappage.htm http://collections.ic.gc.ca/arctic/inuit/gjoa.htm Ice was tight several times coming here. It didn't stop us but we slowed and had numerous detours. Part of the problem was that the Arctic is not well charted in many places, so extreme caution is required if you are not on a recommended route. Simpson Strait is particularly narrow and rock filled. It does keep everyone alert and enjoying the challenge. Last report we said 6 other boats but there were 7 other boats, 4 of us from the west and 4 from the east side. 'Pelagic Australis' a 79ft aluminum sailboat skippered by Skip Novak decided to turn back a while ago and now Graeme Kendall in 'Astral Express', a New Zealand boat single handing and for reasons we will learn later has decided to winter in Nuuk Greenland. On our side 'Arctic Wanderer' has decided to do his repairs and winter in Cambridge Bay, which leaves 5 of us still trying. http://www.pelagic.co.uk/newsinfo/news.htm http://www.pelagic.co.uk/nwp/050820_nwpreport.htm http://www.theoceans.net/news.php?id=665 http://www.arcticwandering.com/ We were spoiled bad in Cambridge, Wilf Wilcox and his wife Ruth provided two barbeques with other friends to meet, JR and his wife Bessie also over fed us, Lindsey from the Dew Line invited us over for supper and a tour and their cooks were very generous, Mark, the captain of the ice breaker 'Sir Wilfred Laurier' picked us up, gave us a tour and their great cooks laid a great table. Phil and Liz from 'Fine Tolerance' an Australian boat are great helpers as well as interesting people and skilled sailors. They have been here since last year and are a wealth of knowledge. Peter of 'Minke 1' is a serious experienced sailor who has been here since 2003 trying to get through. He has able seaman, First Mate Bob, whose humor is always welcome. They are from Halifax. Our friend Dorman Ditch had flown up from Grande Prairie and enjoyed his vacation nearly as much as we enjoyed his company. We stayed in Cambridge longer than expected and blamed it on the ice in Queen Maud Gulf, but maybe it was the fun we were having. Jason and Troy Fimrite had joined us and are enjoying it all. Bobby Jo from Stettler, Alberta, the new Recreation Director visited us and provided some interesting insight. Rebecca Jerram a 3 year veteran of the Arctic from New Zealand who works for the planning commission rewarded us with a pleasant and thorough look at the life in Cambridge Bay. We are now waiting for ice to open up farther north. We get daily ice reports and will move up to the edge of the ice when there is any indication that it is softening. 30 day forecast said warmer than usual for the first 2 weeks of September so we will hang in until it starts to freeze. If we are not through when it starts to freeze we will plan how we should winter the boat. Also a serious question for us is, "if we have a chance to follow an ice breaker through, should we accept or wait until next year?" It's as exciting as our first ice encounter in fog and high wind. Ben Gray <http://www.idlewildexpedition.ca/>www.idlewildexpedition.ca