Today, August 26, 2016, M/V POLAR BOUND (GB), skippered by David Scott Cowper with his son, Fred Cowper, has transit Labrador Narrows in Fury & Hecla Strait closing Northwest Passage Route 7 westbound.
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Cowper departed Maryport Cumbria GB on July 31st and single-handed to Greenland across the North Atlantic. Fred joined as crew and together they departed Julianehab Greenland on August 17, 2016. Together they navigated to cross the Arctic Circle (66.56083N) on August 24, 2016 at 0544 hrs in position 66.618605N -80.368423W.
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On this leg of the voyage, POLAR BOUND has traveled more than 2,080 kms (1,123nm) averaging 12km/h (6.479kts) Note the interesting 22.77 km/hr (12.29kts) max. continuous speed over a four hour period - the tidal currents rip on Route 7 and are not for the timid especially when stacked up against opposing 7m (22.75 ft) seas and winds gusting 60kts. I learned a new word. "Swirlers" off Topsail Head on Resolution Island in Hudson Strait that extended for more than 2 miles - the crew said it was like being in an 18 foot sea that couldn't find its way out of a washing machine - we were trapped in the cabin being washed around with green water flying over POLAR BOUND - it literally beat them black & blue pitch-poling about. Enough of the nonsense - they laid to hull for a few hours until the tide turned.
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Where does Cowper go after a Route 7 West transit of Labrador Narrows in Fury & Hecla Strait? To Hudson's Bay Company aka Fort Ross, of course, to sign the Guest Book while consulting over the remaining routes and weather conditions.
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Hello! Bellot Strait, my dear old friend. I've come to talk with you again... this is David Cowper's seventh Northwest Passage.
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FYI David Scott Cowper has six circumnavigations of the world, now soon to be his 7th Arctic Northwest Passage. In 1980 Cowper single-handed set the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe via Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin in OCEAN BOUND, a Sparkman & Stevens 12.49m sloop, beating Francis Chichester's 16m GYPSY MOTH IV, record of 226 days by one day. Some said it was luck so Cowper said to follow him again. Two years later, he repeated the feat, sailing against the prevailing westerly winds and rounding all five capes in 237 days, beating Chay Blyth's 17.98m BRITISH STEEL record by 72 days and becoming the first person to circumnavigate Cape Horn in both directions single-handed and also holds the record for the fastest single handed time in each direction.
His latest feat ranks alongside those of McClure, Amundsen, Bellot and Parry. In personal conversations with Cowper he said, "I've traveled to places where Captain Cook sailed. I feel there are many times when I'm treading in the footsteps of the ancient mariners. I feel quite fulfilled by my trips. The world is not such a small place. The sea fascinates me, in the same way that climbing Mount Everest fascinates a mountaineer."
Q. How many ships have traversed Fury & Hecla Strait in the past 194 years since discovery?
A. Several of the Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers and several ice class research vessels. I do not know of any other yacht or small vessel having made this transit until the first time on 26 August 2016 by David Scott Cowper on M/V POLAR BOUND (GB).
THIS IS THE FIRST NORTHWEST PASSAGE ROUTE 7 WEST IN RECORDED HISTORY.
(Photo by Douglas Pohl - COPYRIGHT 2016 - Used by Permission)
Cowper departed Maryport Cumbria GB on July 31st and single-handed to Greenland across the North Atlantic. Fred joined as crew and together they departed Julianehab Greenland on August 17, 2016. Together they navigated to cross the Arctic Circle (66.56083N) on August 24, 2016 at 0544 hrs in position 66.618605N -80.368423W.
(Photo by Fred Cowper - COPYRIGHT 2016 - Used by Permission)
Previous details are posted here: http://arcticnorthwestpassage.blogspot.com/2016/08/david-cowper-returns-on-mv-polar-bound.htmlOn this leg of the voyage, POLAR BOUND has traveled more than 2,080 kms (1,123nm) averaging 12km/h (6.479kts) Note the interesting 22.77 km/hr (12.29kts) max. continuous speed over a four hour period - the tidal currents rip on Route 7 and are not for the timid especially when stacked up against opposing 7m (22.75 ft) seas and winds gusting 60kts. I learned a new word. "Swirlers" off Topsail Head on Resolution Island in Hudson Strait that extended for more than 2 miles - the crew said it was like being in an 18 foot sea that couldn't find its way out of a washing machine - we were trapped in the cabin being washed around with green water flying over POLAR BOUND - it literally beat them black & blue pitch-poling about. Enough of the nonsense - they laid to hull for a few hours until the tide turned.
(Photo by Douglas Pohl - COPYRIGHT 2016 - Used by Permission)
Where does Cowper go after a Route 7 West transit of Labrador Narrows in Fury & Hecla Strait? To Hudson's Bay Company aka Fort Ross, of course, to sign the Guest Book while consulting over the remaining routes and weather conditions.
Hello! Bellot Strait, my dear old friend. I've come to talk with you again... this is David Cowper's seventh Northwest Passage.
(Photo by Douglas Pohl - COPYRIGHT 2016 - Used by Permission)
FYI David Scott Cowper has six circumnavigations of the world, now soon to be his 7th Arctic Northwest Passage. In 1980 Cowper single-handed set the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe via Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin in OCEAN BOUND, a Sparkman & Stevens 12.49m sloop, beating Francis Chichester's 16m GYPSY MOTH IV, record of 226 days by one day. Some said it was luck so Cowper said to follow him again. Two years later, he repeated the feat, sailing against the prevailing westerly winds and rounding all five capes in 237 days, beating Chay Blyth's 17.98m BRITISH STEEL record by 72 days and becoming the first person to circumnavigate Cape Horn in both directions single-handed and also holds the record for the fastest single handed time in each direction.
His latest feat ranks alongside those of McClure, Amundsen, Bellot and Parry. In personal conversations with Cowper he said, "I've traveled to places where Captain Cook sailed. I feel there are many times when I'm treading in the footsteps of the ancient mariners. I feel quite fulfilled by my trips. The world is not such a small place. The sea fascinates me, in the same way that climbing Mount Everest fascinates a mountaineer."
David Scott Cowper is without a doubt our greatest yachtsman. His seamanship skills have set the highest bar that few will ever reach.
The official Northwest Passage records are kept at Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge by R. K. Headland: http://www.americanpolar.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/NWP-2015.pdf
Questions?
I can help!
Email: voyageadviser (at) gmail (dot) com
"When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past." - Thomas S. Monson
Q. What ever happened to HMS FURY and HMS HECLA used by Commander William Parry to discover Fury & Hecla Strait in 1822?
Searching wikipedia.org
A. HMS FURY Background
The official Northwest Passage records are kept at Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge by R. K. Headland: http://www.americanpolar.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/NWP-2015.pdf
Questions?
I can help!
Email: voyageadviser (at) gmail (dot) com
"When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past." - Thomas S. Monson
UPDATES:
20160827-1340hrs. - WEST OF FURY & HECLA STRAIT UNDERWAY FOR BELLOT STRAIT
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SIDEBAR
20160827-1340hrs. - WEST OF FURY & HECLA STRAIT UNDERWAY FOR BELLOT STRAIT
Photo by Douglas Pohl - COPYRIGHT 2016 - Used with Permission
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Photo by Douglas Pohl - COPYRIGHT 2016 - Used with Permission
20160827-1534hrs - CONFIRMS TRANSIT OF FURY & HECLA STRAIT BY DSC.
SIDEBAR
Q. What ever happened to HMS FURY and HMS HECLA used by Commander William Parry to discover Fury & Hecla Strait in 1822?
Searching wikipedia.org
A. HMS FURY Background
| Name: | HMS Fury |
| Ordered: | 5 June 1813 |
| Builder: | Mrs Mary Ross, Rochester, Kent |
| Laid down: | September 1813 |
| Launched: | 4 April 1814 |
| Reclassified: | Converted to Arctic discovery vessel, 1821 |
| Fate: | Bilged in Prince Regent Inlet, Baffin Island and abandoned, 25 August 1825 |
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | Hecla-class bomb vessel |
| Tons burthen: | 372 1⁄94 tons bm |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 28 ft 6 in (8.7 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 13 ft 10 in (4.22 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged |
| Complement: | 67 |
| Armament: |
|
1824–25: HMS Fury lost at Prince Regent Inlet
In May 1824 he left London in the Hecla accompanied by Henry Parkyns Hoppner in the Fury. With them were Horatio Thomas Austin, James Clark Ross and William Hooper, purser and diarist. The was Prince Regent Inlet at the west end of Baffin Island where he had been blocked by ice in 1819. It was a bad year for ice and he did not reach Lancaster Sound until 10 September. He entered Prince Regent Inlet but after 60 miles of ice he was forced to winter at a place he called Port Bowen on the eastern shore of the Brodeur Peninsula, Baffin Island. In late July 1825 they freed themselves from ice but 60 miles further south they were caught by wind and ice and the Fury was driven against the western shore. After 48 hours work on the pumps it was deliberately beached. Stores were unloaded in the hope of careening the vessel, but by 25 August it was clear that the keel was broken. Most of the stores were left on the beach and the crew taken on board the Hecla which reached England in October 1825. Parry thought he could see open water south of the wreck site. He published an account of this voyage in 1826.
The wreck site, Fury Beach, near 72°30′N 92°30′W where the coast turns west became an important landmark. John Ross reached it in 1829. He found the hulk gone and many stores, Fury's boats and anchors piled on the beach. When his ship was frozen in further south he depended on those stores before being rescued. In 1850 Charles Forsyth reached it but was blocked by ice.
Farthest North record.
In the following year Parry obtained the sanction of the Admiralty for an attempt on the North Pole from the northern shores of Spitzbergen at Seven Islands. On 23 October 1826, Parry married Isabella Louisa Stanley, daughter of John Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley and Lady Maria Josepha Holroyde before undertaking the expedition on HMS FURY.
In 1827 he reached 82°45’N, which remained for 49 years the highest latitude attained. He published an account of this journey under the title of Narrative of the Attempt to reach the North Pole (1827).
HMS HECLA Background
HMS Hecla was a Royal Navy Fury-class bomb vessel launched in 1815. Like many other bomb vessels, was named for a volcano, in this case Hekla in Iceland. She served at the Bombardment of Algiers. Subsequently she took part in three expeditions to the Arctic. She then served as a survey vessel on the coast of West Africa until she was sold.
Hecla was put up for sale in 1831 at Woolwich. She was sold in April for £1,990 to Sir E. Banks.
In May 1824 he left London in the Hecla accompanied by Henry Parkyns Hoppner in the Fury. With them were Horatio Thomas Austin, James Clark Ross and William Hooper, purser and diarist. The was Prince Regent Inlet at the west end of Baffin Island where he had been blocked by ice in 1819. It was a bad year for ice and he did not reach Lancaster Sound until 10 September. He entered Prince Regent Inlet but after 60 miles of ice he was forced to winter at a place he called Port Bowen on the eastern shore of the Brodeur Peninsula, Baffin Island. In late July 1825 they freed themselves from ice but 60 miles further south they were caught by wind and ice and the Fury was driven against the western shore. After 48 hours work on the pumps it was deliberately beached. Stores were unloaded in the hope of careening the vessel, but by 25 August it was clear that the keel was broken. Most of the stores were left on the beach and the crew taken on board the Hecla which reached England in October 1825. Parry thought he could see open water south of the wreck site. He published an account of this voyage in 1826.
The wreck site, Fury Beach, near 72°30′N 92°30′W where the coast turns west became an important landmark. John Ross reached it in 1829. He found the hulk gone and many stores, Fury's boats and anchors piled on the beach. When his ship was frozen in further south he depended on those stores before being rescued. In 1850 Charles Forsyth reached it but was blocked by ice.
Farthest North record.
In the following year Parry obtained the sanction of the Admiralty for an attempt on the North Pole from the northern shores of Spitzbergen at Seven Islands. On 23 October 1826, Parry married Isabella Louisa Stanley, daughter of John Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley and Lady Maria Josepha Holroyde before undertaking the expedition on HMS FURY.
In 1827 he reached 82°45’N, which remained for 49 years the highest latitude attained. He published an account of this journey under the title of Narrative of the Attempt to reach the North Pole (1827).
HMS HECLA Background
| Name: | HMS Hecla |
| Namesake: | Hekla |
| Ordered: | 5 June 1813 |
| Builder: | Barkworth & Hawkes, North Barton, Hull |
| Laid down: | July 1813 |
| Launched: | 22 July 1815 |
| Honours and awards: | Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Algiers"[1] |
| Fate: | Sold, 13 April 1831 |
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Class and type: |
|
| Tons burthen: | 375 26⁄94 tons bm |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 28 ft 71⁄2 in (8.7 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 13 ft 101⁄2 in (4.229 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged |
| Complement: | 67 |
| Armament: |
|
HMS Hecla was a Royal Navy Fury-class bomb vessel launched in 1815. Like many other bomb vessels, was named for a volcano, in this case Hekla in Iceland. She served at the Bombardment of Algiers. Subsequently she took part in three expeditions to the Arctic. She then served as a survey vessel on the coast of West Africa until she was sold.
Hecla was put up for sale in 1831 at Woolwich. She was sold in April for £1,990 to Sir E. Banks.
Q. How many ships have traversed Fury & Hecla Strait in the past 194 years since discovery?
A. Several of the Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers and several ice class research vessels. I do not know of any other yacht or small vessel having made this transit until the first time on 26 August 2016 by David Scott Cowper on M/V POLAR BOUND (GB).
THIS IS THE FIRST NORTHWEST PASSAGE ROUTE 7 WEST IN RECORDED HISTORY.