Chinese-Led Team Heads for Arctic

Here’s a little news item that might not have crossed your radar: Having purchased IDEC II, the 95-ft trimaran on which Francis Joyon soloed the planet in a record-breaking 57 days (2008), Chinese circumnavigator Guo Chuan and an international crew of sailors departed La Trinite Sur Mer, France, Friday morning bound for the chilly waters of the Arctic Ocean. Why? Because they hope to establish a world record for a nonstop crossing of the Northeast Passage. That is, from Murmansk, Russia, to the Bering Strait — the opposite side of the Arctic Ice Cap from the Northwest passage.

Although Russian commercial vessels often travel that route, it is not a passage that’s frequently attempted — or even contemplated — by sailors, as they must obtain special permission from Moscow to do so. In this case, the fact that renowned Russian sailor and polar explorer Sergei Nizovtsev is on the crew roster may have greased the skids of bureaucracy for Chuan. Also, he has dedicated the voyage to international peace, especially in light of the fact that 2015 is the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. The logo of Chuan’s organization Peace and Sport is emblazoned on the mainsail of the big tri, now named Qingdao.

She is scheduled to leave Murmansk September 3. If winds during the 5,000-mile trip allow her to reach her speed potential Chuan and his crew could make the transit in about two weeks. But even in an era when the Arctic Ice Cap is shrinking, such speeds would seem unlikely due to the unpredictable movements of sea ice and highly variable winds. Ironically, in those waters the prevailing wisdom is to take it slow. But we wish Chuan and his crew the best of luck nonetheless.