My plans to retrace Captain Cook's unfinished voyage have been postponed a year while I work on the next Marine Diesel Basics book and get my new boat SV Oceandrifter ready for sea.
Voyage to Ungava
Retracing the voyage of an Inuit family and two Moravian missionaries who – in 1811 – sailed in a 45-foot boat around northern Labrador into Ungava Bay to meet Inuit who’d never before seen Europeans. This voyage was one of the earliest cooperative ventures of Inuit and Europeans. Unlike many later voyages in which the Europeans considered their Inuit companions merely as guides, in the voyage of 1811 was captained by the Inuk leader Jonathan. The Moravians published a small book about the voyage.
For the last 5 years I’ve been researching, preparing my 32-foot steel sailboat Kuan Yin and attempting to go north down the Labrador to retrace their historic adventure. Three attempts in the last three summers have been thwarted by mechanical setbacks. But, with luck 2013 will be the summer I finally reach Kuujjuaq, 25 miles up the Koksoak River, which was the final destination of the voyage of 1811.
More information on this 3000 mile voyage coming soon. Subscribe for updates throughout the voyage.
Voyage to Ungava:
Part 14 – the story of 2013 – Back to School After 38 Years
Part 13 – only 300 miles – When Success Means Turning for Home
Part Twelve – Sailing in Labrador in 2012 – So Far So Good, and So Beautiful and So Daunting
Part Eleven – the secret of self-reliance – Simplicity is Complexity and Complexity is Simplicity
Part Ten – ready in Newfoundland – Preparations before the 2012 Departure
Part 9/3 -moving forward despite disappointments – How to Keep Smiling in the Face of Endless Delays (3)
Part 9/2 -moving forward despite disappointments – How to Keep Smiling in the Face of Endless Delays (2)
Part 9/1 – moving forward despite disappointments – How to Keep Smiling in the Face of Endless Delays (1)
Part 8 – reaching Newfoundland and the Atlantic Ocean – So Far So Good
Part 7 – A sense of accomplishment – Reaching Labrador At Last
Part 6 – A taste of heavy weather – Post-tropical Storm Earl and other gales
Part 5 – Another small personal challenge and triumph – Rounding Cape Whittle
Part 4 – A small personal challenge and triumph – My Own English Channel
Part 3 – From Quebec City to the Gulf of St. Lawrence – Take the Rough and the Smooth
Part 2 – Kingston to Quebec City – Progress Seldom Comes in Straight Lines
Part 1 – Departing from Toronto – Finally Underway
May the force be with you on your voyage. I look forward to your weekly updates. Barbara
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Sounds like an adventure. Count me in for the updates too.
My sailing experience is somewhat limited to Scottish waters a long time ago. Looking forward to a virtual travel experience to Labrador… not been there yet!
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Bonjour Dennison,
Here’s a link to Captain J.E.Bernier story told in a TV serie called Histoires Oubliés (Forgotten Stories) that sailed in the Arctic a 100 years ago. He was named KAPITAI KALLAC by the Inuits
http://www.histoiresoubliees.ca/article/kapitaikallak-je-bernier
Robert
Paris-Brest
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I see you on Siitech arriving here in Havre-Saint-Pierre.If you need anything check me out, here in HSP.
Lionel
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Hi Mr Dennison I hada short chat with you while you were tie’d up in LaTabatiere and I was just wondering how thing’s went after you left Tabatiere you told me you were going to try to git to Red Bay and Chateau Baie so I was wondering how thing’s went and if you made it to St Anthoney yet .Im just another curious sailor is all . Happy sailing Ellis
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Have known you for many years and am always intrigued by your adventurous ways. A recent supper (Jan 2) with you in Bangkok reaffirmed what I have always suspected about you. I also love that word “serendipity” as it mirrors my reason for edging into my 80th year with confidence, excitement and determination to make every minute count. I am with you in Spirit since I cannot be there in person. For two reasons I am hoping to fly to Nain when you get there: to see you off on your memorable trip north and to visit Labrador for the first time. Then I will have visited every province and territory in Canada. One of my lifetime goals. And I have you to thank for that. BON VOYAGE and here’s hoping you meet as little ice as possible as you go over the brink! Or is it around?
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What a life you lead! I am jealous. I have had a few bouts with the north and long to go back. Several outings in James and Hudson Bays, launching at Chisasibi, Wemindji, Eastmain. I sailed to Ivujivik on a Beneteau 21, from Chisasibi, and took a Nimble 25 pilot house to Innukjuaac from Wemindji. Neither was enough boat for the north. In Great Whale, our boat was robbed by a bunch of Inuit kids–one of whom drowned off the wharf later that day. It was terrible. My wife died the next year, of pancreatic cancer. Since, I have longed to go back. As I am planning on installing a woodstove in my Endeavor 32 (berthed Tenants Harbor, ME), I found your info about the Sardine you installed, thereby discovering you in the process…so glad I did!. Once I was locked in at Wemindji harbor for a month and burned 2×4 cutoffs from a housing project! (in a lousy dickinson Newport solid fuel stove…). I have always wanted to get back to the north–explore the Belchers, Ottawa Islands, the south coast of Baffin Island, etc.
I hope we run into eachother–always a free mooring, hot shower, and comraderie waiting for you here in Tenants Harbor.
Smooth Sailing
peter
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Don’t suspect you are in Toronto at the moment but if you are let me know-I am here until 13.11.11 then back to the Motherland. Janice and I now own a campervan-currently stored in Vancouver-looking to pick it up in May 2012 to spend a year travelling around North America and hopefully Mexico.
Hope you are well.
Bob
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