All hands-- With the help of more than a few friends, Ben Gray and his son, Brad, have completed the first challenging leg of their planned circumnavigation of the world via the Northwest Passage. Their narrow and shallow yacht Idlewild, designed by George Buehler, reached Fort Smith in Canada's Northwest Territories on June 16 having survived 870 miles of uncharted waters on the Peace River since departing Dunvegan, Alberta, on May 24. Thus far, the crazy Canucks have pulled and pushed the 15-ton Idlewild over two difficult portages, 10 miles on the Peace River around the Vermillion Chutes and 13 miles on the Slave River. Now comes 1,200 miles on Great Slave Lake and the mighty Mackenzie River to reach the Arctic Ocean at Tuktoyaktuk. For an overview of the expedition with photos and a map, go <http://www.theoceans.net/news.php?id=252>. For the Idlewild Expedition site, go <http://www.idlewildexpedition.ca/>. For a brief recap of transits of the Northwest Passage, see the bottom of <http://www.theoceans.net/news.php?id=200>. For earlier posts and news, go http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/passagemaking-under-power/2005-June/001216.html http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/passagemaking-under-power/2005-June/001212.html http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/passagemaking-under-power/2005-June/001210.html http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/passagemaking-under-power/2005-June/001206.html http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/passagemaking-under-power/2005-June/001204.html http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/passagemaking-under-power/2005-June/001203.html --Georgs -- Georgs Kolesnikovs Your host at Trawlers & Trawlering, formerly Trawler World, since 1997