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David Scott Cowper on dodging icebergs in the Northwest Passage | David Scott Cowper on dodging icebergs in the Northwest Passage |
(5 days later) | |
At the age of 70 David Scott Cowper is no stranger to danger. | At the age of 70 David Scott Cowper is no stranger to danger. |
At the beginning of November, Mr Scott Cowper, from Newcastle, returned from a successful attempt to navigate the Northwest Passage through the McClure Strait, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. | |
As well as rough seas and unpredictable weather patterns, the adventurer, who has made numerous trips to explore the Arctic, also had to contend with obstacles hampering his course. | As well as rough seas and unpredictable weather patterns, the adventurer, who has made numerous trips to explore the Arctic, also had to contend with obstacles hampering his course. |
"Icebergs just loom straight out of the mist and they present an immediate need for evasive action - I've crashed into one before, and it's no fun," he said. | "Icebergs just loom straight out of the mist and they present an immediate need for evasive action - I've crashed into one before, and it's no fun," he said. |
"They at least show up on the radar, but there are growlers which are broken shards of icebergs that simply don't show up. | "They at least show up on the radar, but there are growlers which are broken shards of icebergs that simply don't show up. |
"They can be about the size of an armchair at water level, and can look as benign as a wave top. | "They can be about the size of an armchair at water level, and can look as benign as a wave top. |
"Although my vessel Polar Bound can take around 60 tons of ice pressure on her hull, below, the growler can be around 100 tons of ice," he continued. | "Although my vessel Polar Bound can take around 60 tons of ice pressure on her hull, below, the growler can be around 100 tons of ice," he continued. |
"And when you have one of those coming on a running sea, your navigational skills are really tested." | "And when you have one of those coming on a running sea, your navigational skills are really tested." |
Mr Scott Cowper departed from Whitehaven in July and sailed north toward Greenland after stopping at Port Rush to fill Polar Bound with fuel. | Mr Scott Cowper departed from Whitehaven in July and sailed north toward Greenland after stopping at Port Rush to fill Polar Bound with fuel. |
"Much of my trip this time was in thick fog and when I was skirting the south-west coast of Greenland, the fog detracted from part of the joy of the journey as I was navigating largely on my instruments - unable to see the majestic Greenland scenery," he said. | "Much of my trip this time was in thick fog and when I was skirting the south-west coast of Greenland, the fog detracted from part of the joy of the journey as I was navigating largely on my instruments - unable to see the majestic Greenland scenery," he said. |
However, he always enjoys visiting the local communities along his route. | However, he always enjoys visiting the local communities along his route. |
"I always love berthing at Alaska's Dutch Harbour - I have a few fishermen friends there and I rather look forward to seeing them for a short while," he said. | "I always love berthing at Alaska's Dutch Harbour - I have a few fishermen friends there and I rather look forward to seeing them for a short while," he said. |
"It's not like meeting people at a cocktail party - these are real friends and you may not have seen them for three or four years - but you just pick up that conversation from where and when you left off." | "It's not like meeting people at a cocktail party - these are real friends and you may not have seen them for three or four years - but you just pick up that conversation from where and when you left off." |
Mr Scott Cowper has always been his own financial backer. | Mr Scott Cowper has always been his own financial backer. |
"I've always cut my cloth according to my means," he said. | "I've always cut my cloth according to my means," he said. |
"There's been no fancy boats or fancy this and that you associate with heavily sponsored trips." | "There's been no fancy boats or fancy this and that you associate with heavily sponsored trips." |
Provisions are simple, with a large amount of tinned food. He has a small deep-freeze in which he stores fish, chicken and duck and takes enough supplies for up to three years. | Provisions are simple, with a large amount of tinned food. He has a small deep-freeze in which he stores fish, chicken and duck and takes enough supplies for up to three years. |
"Breakfast is porridge with maple syrup and I make my own bread and soup from chicken carcasses with fresh vegetables," he said. | "Breakfast is porridge with maple syrup and I make my own bread and soup from chicken carcasses with fresh vegetables," he said. |
Technology has significantly changed since Mr Scott Cowper's early sailing days in the 1970s. | Technology has significantly changed since Mr Scott Cowper's early sailing days in the 1970s. |
"Then it was celestial navigation with a sextant and I would take a sighting 9am, noon and 4pm and I'd be accurate within a nautical mile," he recalled. | "Then it was celestial navigation with a sextant and I would take a sighting 9am, noon and 4pm and I'd be accurate within a nautical mile," he recalled. |
"Today, auto-entering into the computer log can make you complacent, and if there is one place that you can't afford to be complacent it's the Arctic waters." | "Today, auto-entering into the computer log can make you complacent, and if there is one place that you can't afford to be complacent it's the Arctic waters." |
"Before long, the Arctic will be ice-free in the summer and just freeze up in winter - but these days, with severe storms and high winds, it can bring huge seas very quickly and you just have to concentrate," he added. | "Before long, the Arctic will be ice-free in the summer and just freeze up in winter - but these days, with severe storms and high winds, it can bring huge seas very quickly and you just have to concentrate," he added. |
The Polar Bound is now safely moored in Petersburg, Alaska, and despite only recently arriving home Mr Scott Cowper is already planning his next adventure. | The Polar Bound is now safely moored in Petersburg, Alaska, and despite only recently arriving home Mr Scott Cowper is already planning his next adventure. |
"I'm going to try another route before too long, but I'm not going to divulge what it is at the moment," he said. | "I'm going to try another route before too long, but I'm not going to divulge what it is at the moment," he said. |
"They take a considerable time and a great deal of research and expense to carry them out." | "They take a considerable time and a great deal of research and expense to carry them out." |
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