Below I have copied a 22 Sep post by "Fine Tolerance". If you've been
following the "Idlewild" web site, you'll remember both yachts were were
heaved up on top of the ice and "Fine Tolerance" was abandoned for a time
with her crew escaping to "Idlewild" What I find interesting was the
discription of the damage done to this Steel yacht.

Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 3:26 AM

Newsletter no ?
Pond Inlet.

We are now in Pond Inlet having arrived here two days ago but due to bad
weather unable to land after orgainizing some fuel in the first hours of our
arrival.

Tonight we will be departing for Greenland as new ice will start to form
around
here and we have no wish to be caught again in these latitudes. On our trip
here from Fort Ross we passed quite a few icebergs that were higher than our
mast and we expect to see many more like this which makes us, when
travelling at night, a little edgy to say the least. We did reach 73 degrees
52
minutes north and are now south bound, and thankfull for it. The
temperatures
here are now all below freezing.

Fine Tolerance did sustain quite a bit of damage coming through the last 60
miles of ice and it is only due to the help, so freely given by the Canadian
Coast
Guard, that we still have her. The prop which had had all it's blades shorn
off
was replaced with a spare that we carry and the rudder stock which had been
bent was straightened. Unfortunately it was not until we had replaced
everything and were putting back on the quadrent that it was noted that the
solid 38mm stainless steel rudder stock had also twisted 25 degrees. We
still
have steerage but will have to get this repaired as soon as we come across
facilities that will allow us to do so. No so easy to repair is the hull
which
suffered quite a beating. From being a very fair steel hull it has now taken
on
the look of a starving racehorse. This has been caused by the ice hitting
the
sides and pushing in the steel plating between each frame. In places even
the
stringers are showing through. There have been times in the past where I
have
felt that we over built Fine Tolerance and that we could have done with less
weight. Not so now and we do not regret one iota making her as strong as she
is. We also have no rails or lifelines forward of 3 meters aft of the bow
along
with no pullpit now at all. The overbuilt bowsprit was a saving grace and
although twisted and flattened, it, and the Canadian Coast Guard Ice
Breaker 'Sir Winfred Laurier' and crew, were the hero's of the week.

The internet facility we did have aboard Fine Tolerance last year which
operated through the Iridium Satilite network is now no longer operating due
to
us not recieving a new sims card before departing Cambridge Bay. When we
do get out of here we will be able to tell you all the full story. Until
then please
forgive us for not personally repling to all your emails. We will get to
them as
soon as we can.

Of the other small boats this year only 'Idlewild', the Canadian powerboat
and
Fine Tolerance passed through the North West Passage.

Yours Phil and Liz

A month or so ago I posted an article regarding friends who were attempting the NW passage (E to W) aboard a Bowman 59, "Cloud Nine". "Cloud Nine", along with the Trawler "Idlewild", and sailboat "Fine Tolerance", were assisted by the Canadian CG in breaking out of the ice and returning to Ft Ross. "Cloud Nine" gave up and just left Pond Inlet bound for St Anthony, Newfoundland. Below I have copied a 22 Sep post by "Fine Tolerance". If you've been following the "Idlewild" web site, you'll remember both yachts were were heaved up on top of the ice and "Fine Tolerance" was abandoned for a time with her crew escaping to "Idlewild" What I find interesting was the discription of the damage done to this Steel yacht. ========================= Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 3:26 AM Newsletter no ? Pond Inlet. We are now in Pond Inlet having arrived here two days ago but due to bad weather unable to land after orgainizing some fuel in the first hours of our arrival. Tonight we will be departing for Greenland as new ice will start to form around here and we have no wish to be caught again in these latitudes. On our trip here from Fort Ross we passed quite a few icebergs that were higher than our mast and we expect to see many more like this which makes us, when travelling at night, a little edgy to say the least. We did reach 73 degrees 52 minutes north and are now south bound, and thankfull for it. The temperatures here are now all below freezing. Fine Tolerance did sustain quite a bit of damage coming through the last 60 miles of ice and it is only due to the help, so freely given by the Canadian Coast Guard, that we still have her. The prop which had had all it's blades shorn off was replaced with a spare that we carry and the rudder stock which had been bent was straightened. Unfortunately it was not until we had replaced everything and were putting back on the quadrent that it was noted that the solid 38mm stainless steel rudder stock had also twisted 25 degrees. We still have steerage but will have to get this repaired as soon as we come across facilities that will allow us to do so. No so easy to repair is the hull which suffered quite a beating. From being a very fair steel hull it has now taken on the look of a starving racehorse. This has been caused by the ice hitting the sides and pushing in the steel plating between each frame. In places even the stringers are showing through. There have been times in the past where I have felt that we over built Fine Tolerance and that we could have done with less weight. Not so now and we do not regret one iota making her as strong as she is. We also have no rails or lifelines forward of 3 meters aft of the bow along with no pullpit now at all. The overbuilt bowsprit was a saving grace and although twisted and flattened, it, and the Canadian Coast Guard Ice Breaker 'Sir Winfred Laurier' and crew, were the hero's of the week. The internet facility we did have aboard Fine Tolerance last year which operated through the Iridium Satilite network is now no longer operating due to us not recieving a new sims card before departing Cambridge Bay. When we do get out of here we will be able to tell you all the full story. Until then please forgive us for not personally repling to all your emails. We will get to them as soon as we can. Of the other small boats this year only 'Idlewild', the Canadian powerboat and Fine Tolerance passed through the North West Passage. Yours Phil and Liz