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The young guns crew on Peter 1 are heading for harbor to replace the contaminated water.
Image by Peter 1
The ice charts shows that there is still much ice in both the Northeast and the Northwest Passage.
Image by Nansen Environmental & Remote Sensing Center.
Børge Ousland has been practicing ice escaping maneuvers in Kirkenes. Winching the boat on to the ice is one of them.
Image by Børge Ousland
LINKS
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North Pole Yacht Race: Russians in trouble
Posted: Jul 20, 2010 05:33 am EDT
The Russian steel yacht Peter 1 left Murmansk July 14th and got a gale pushing them North fast the first couple of days. They are now close to the top of Novaja Semlja and have contaminated freshwater tanks to deal with.
The Russian bureaucracy was a challenge even to the Russian expedition. The seven young sailors on Peter 1 had to spend a few extra frustrating days in Murmansk dealing with papers and licenses before they finally could push of for the Northeast Passage.
A few days later they got strong following winds pushing them North along Novaia Semlja. When the storm was at it’s strongest they had 38-40 knots of wind, and it took it’s toll. A few of their sails got ripped, but worst of all: Water over the deck got in to the fresh water tanks.
According to their blog it is most likely that the salt arctic water has gotten in to the fresh water through the filling hole. The lid was not firmly secured after leaving Murmansk.
Now the seven only have 200 liters of fresh water in bottles. And that is by no means enough for the adventure they are heading in to. They are now on their way to a harbor on the northwest coast of Novaia Semlja to refill their tanks. And that’s a bold move considering the island has been used as a nuclear testing ground. 134 known nuclear bombs have been blown on the island between 1954-1990.
The strong southerly winds have not only given the Russians good speed, but also left a stretch of open water on the top of Novaia Semlja. That’s according to the latest satellite photos from Nansen Environmental & Remote Sensing Center.
But satellite photos don’t always tell the whole truth, and according to sailors who have been in the area when the satellite photos shows blue water, it is most likely a lot of drift ice in the area anyhow.
The wind is the key for every ship sailing in these waters. It the wind sets in from the North or East the ice will be pushed in 1-2 knots of speed south and west.
The winds look very favorable for the Russians for the rest of the week with more southerlies holding the ice in place.
Ousland and his crew have made the last preparations in Kirkenes, and are heading for Murmansk July 19th.
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