Sunday Afternoon we transited the infamous Bellot Strait.  Navigating this remote narrow passage was on my bucket list.   The strait is just over a mile wide and 16 miles long.  The current can reach 8 knots. We are the first ship to transit the strait this year.  Actually we are leading the way, and will (hopefully) the NG Resolution will record the first successful transit of the NW Passage this season.  Getting from Jackson Inlet to Fort Ross involved banging thru a lot of ice.  There is much more ahead of us.  There are several ships behind us following our route and taking advantage of the path we are clearing.  Our Captain (Martin) is very excited to be leading the way, 

Bellot Strait Overview

Detailed Chart (from ships nav display)

Entering the most narrow part of the strait.

In the the strait, that’s a Narwhal in the centre left of the picture.

Looking towards the strait exit.  That’s sheet ice on the horizon.  This will be our nemesis for the next several days.

Another shot of the exit of the strait.  That ice looks challenging..

 

NARWHAL MANIA!  Well my epic nautical voyage thru the Beltot Strait was interrupted  by the elusive Narwhal Whale (the unicorn whale)  We saw more Narwhals today in the straight than than NG/Lindblad have ever seen! I still need to process thru my photos (took almost 700 pictures), but here are a few:

 

 

As we exit Bellot Strait were are entering serious Ice. We will be heading south through the Franklin Trough.  The next two days are al about breaking thru the ice, heading south to the James Ross Strait.  Stay tuned…it is about to get interesting..