Mike Horn Siberia departure - take three
Oct 4, 2004 19: 27 EST
The borders are open these days but it's still not easy to get out of Russia. At least not for Mike. Last he was blocked in Tobseda, due to damage on the boat, unable to start ‘stage 10’ of the expedition, the last step, in which he will complete his two year tour of the Arctic Circle - to sail the Corsair trimaran across the Barents Sea towards the North Cape.
Jean-Philippe and a Russian boat builder helped out, and once again, tools, resin and fiberglass were transported by plane and helicopter. They quickly rebuilt one and a half meters of the main hull that was destroyed during a recent storm, and Mike was off again.
But only to Drozdovka: "I'm now in a sheltered bay and can finally get some sleep and something to eat. Tomorrow I will empty the floaters and fix the mainstay and automatic pilots before heading off again. Bernard Stamm is helping me with the weather and he says the winds are expected to calm this evening and I should be able to get through to Murmansk before more bad weather arrives."
"The border guards are awaiting my arrival in Murmansk. They have specified that I sail within 12 miles of the coast and are watching my every move. Cathy sends them my position daily. I hope they won't mind this unexpected stopover at Drozdovka. They say it'll take me a few days to get permission to leave the country again. Apparently there's a huge procedure in Murmansk, loads of paperwork etc to be done (surprise, surprise!)."
"Only 600kms to go until the North Cape. Not long now and I'll be saying 'goodbye' to Russia and will be sailing back into Norwegian waters, and back where I was 2 years ago."
" It's sad and exciting at the same time. I'm looking forward to getting back home!"
Mike Horn, the South African who traveled around the equator in 2000, is back for another circular adventure. This time, however, Mike is in colder climates; the Arctic Circle. His plan is to travel around the Arctic, just within the Arctic Circle, by boat, kayak, ski sail and on foot. He left in august of 2002 and a team provides him with resupplies and various means of travel along the trip.
Image of Mike's trimaran, courtesy of mikehorn.com.
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