Mike and his crew sail Pangaea through the NW Passage in just 12 days.

"We did encounter some ice", says Mike, "but very litte and Pangaea sailed through with no problems at alll! A few years ago we could never have sailed the passage so quickly, but today, meteorologists say that the Arctic sea ice extent reached the lowest level recorded since 1979 for the month of July."

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No Ice, No food, No Polar bears. The only spot along the coast of Baffin Island where we saw ice, we ran into polar bears. It was our lucky day – we saw 2 bears today one swimming about 25nm of shore looking for ice to hunt from and one sitting on the ice after he killing a seal. If all the ice melts during summer the polar bears will not be able to hunt and that will mean the end of them. We must do something about it!!

We have had rough weather the last 28 hours and have made very little progress. What I like about storms is the calm before the storm – it gives you time to prepare.The storm itself! This is when you learn new things and you go beyond your comfort zone. Do not wish for less storms! Just better yourself to overcome them. The same goes for life itself!

Ballot Strait lived up to it's reputation as a dangerous passage with strong currents. Pack ice and very narrow water way makes it very dangerous. As we sailed into the strait it was more or less clear of ice. 20 min later we were tossed about like a cocktail in a blender. Pack ice all around us was pushing us towards the side. I gave the order to open the genoa sail and slowly Pangaea started edging forward…… We made it through and saw our first Polar bear on this trip. What a thrill!

We got some provisions in Gjoa Haven and Pangaea is heading up north along the West coast of Boothia Peninsula to Ballot strait, the narrow strait that will lead us to the eastern Arctic. Ballot is still frozen over and this the most important passage to get through so we can be it in time to for the next Expedition on Baffin Island. My old saying calms my nerves as we get closer and that is; If you worry you die! If you don't worry you also die! So why WORRY?!?!

Gjoa haven at long last after 19 hours of breaking through the ice. The local kids are always happy to see us come and go. We now cleared customs and Immigration into Canada and for those of you who do not know and plan to sail through the North West passage. Please report to the first Police office in any small town so that they know you're there.

We have now arrived in Cambridge Bay. Just before sailing into the bay we had to go through some ice, nothing that Pangaea could not handle. We will stop say 'hi' to old friends and then continue on our way to Clyde River.From now on we will be sailing in ice – let's see what happens.

I just cannot stop looking!!! I'm afraid to fall asleep because I might miss something. This morning we had one of those sunsets and sunrises that you did not want to blink your eyes because you might miss a moment of beauty. Here are some photos that will show you what I was looking at.

Life is shaped with experiences. Memories are the only remains of those experiences. With no memories there was no life!! So what are you waiting for go out and build those memories!!

No ice here as we approach the Dolphin and Union Strait that will lead us to the eastern Arctic. It has been blowing hard today up to 30 knots, but with the wind from our back so Pangaea has been surfing happily along towards the east. Whales, seals and birds have been the only life we have seen since leaving Tuktoyaktuk. We are still waiting to see polar bears but with no ice around we have little chance of seeing them.