A unique world tour

‍2016: Manevaï retries the Northwest Passage

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"At the beginning of June, Manevaï sets sail from Brest and begins her epic voyage up the west coast of Greenland. We arrive at the entrance to Lancaster Sound before the end of July, so as not to miss the first opportunities to enter the Northwest Passage, which take place around mid-August. The 2,750 nautical miles (5,100 km) to the Bering Strait, which must be crossed before mid-September if we don't want to face capricious weather, must be covered quickly. But the route is demanding and presents many difficulties, not least the ice, which is extremely variable. Fortunately, Manevaï is a sailboat designed to cope with the most extreme climatic conditions; sturdy and protective, it finally gets us to the Bering Strait without a hitch. ‍

In 2014, on his first attempt, Manevaï was forced to turn back at the end of August, blocked by ice, at the northernmost point of the route, near Resolute. The whole central part of the passage was much icier than normal. 2015 was a year more in line with the statistics. So in 2016 we decided to try it again. Although the ice melted about ten days ahead of schedule, the "gate" closed at Barrow (on the north-western tip of Alaska) on September 9, over a month ahead of schedule... and just 5 days after our passage! We're very proud to have succeeded in crossing the Northwest Passage this time. Especially as the weather was particularly unstable. It's in this zone that lows are born, so it's impossible to see them coming. The hydrography of the area is obviously approximate, and will remain so for a long time to come. It would take considerable resources to hydrograph the thousands of kilometers of coastline correctly, resources that are unjustifiable in view of the zone's maritime traffic. Add to this the proximity of the magnetic North Pole, which renders navigational compasses unusable throughout the central part of the route. An additional difficulty for navigation. So, to get through this famous passage with peace of mind (and for all great cruises, for that matter), the key word is AUTONOMY! In terms of food and fuel, of course, but also in terms of equipment to cope with inevitable material problems and possible medical concerns. What can't be repaired or treated on board won't be! That's why the builders at Garcia Yachts shipyard have provided ample storage space and redundant equipment to guarantee reliability and independence. After this formidable crossing, Manevaï is wintering in Sitka (Alaska) in a highly protected anchorage and under the watchful eye of two friendly sailboats met on the first attempt."

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2017: After the North-West, the Manevaï performer is ready for anything

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After wintering in Sitka, we hit the road again in early May, heading for Lituya Bay and Yakutat. We end up doing a complete tour of Alaska, passing through Prince William Sound and the Kenai Peninsula in June and July, then Shelikof and Kodiak in early August. In mid-August, we begin our descent into the USA, taking time to visit the coast of British Columbia via the magnificent Inside Passage. Designed to cope with the Northwest Passage as well as the waters of the Pacific, Manevaï then takes us to discover the west coast of the USA: Los Angeles, San Francisco, the Sea of Cortés, with a direct transit of the tip of California before wintering in December until the end of February 2018.

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2018 : Exploring the world continues

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After six fantastic months sailing from Alaska to Mexico aboard our Manevaï sailboat, we're heading for the western Pacific. True to form, this year she will take us to Panama, the Galapagos Islands, the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, the Society Islands and, this winter, to Fiji.

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Admiral Eric ABADIE

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Follow Manevaï's adventures on their blog: http://www.manevai.fr/

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