An overwintering expedition through the Northwest Passage
In the high Arctic, where the ocean freezes solid and time slows down, I will intentionally sail into the ice — and stay.
This expedition has two objectives:
to overwinter frozen into the Arctic sea ice, and to sail the Northwest Passage from Canada to Alaska.
THE PLAN
I will sail north in late summer, entering a remote Arctic bay before winter sets in.
There, I will anchor and wait.
As temperatures drop, the sea will freeze.
The boat will become part of the ice.
For months, there is no movement.
No escape.
Only preparation, endurance, and adaptation.
When the ice finally releases its grip the following summer, I continue west — into the Northwest Passage.
OVERWINTERING IN THE ICE
Overwintering means surviving the Arctic winter while completely locked into pack ice.
Total isolation
Temperatures far below zero
Months of darkness
No resupply
No rescue window
Everything must work.
And if it doesn’t, I must.
This is not a stopover.
It is the expedition itself.
THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE
Northwest Passage connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
Once frozen solid for most of the year, it is now briefly navigable — and still one of the most demanding sailing routes on Earth.
Ice, weather, remoteness, and timing decide everything.
There is no margin for error.
THE VESSEL
She is a steel ketch, 16 meters in length, designed in 1975 by the renowned French naval architect André Mauric.
Born in Marseille (1909–2003), Mauric was one of the most influential yacht designers of the 20th century: creator of successful offshore racers, designer of iconic yachts such as Pen Duick VI, and contributor to vessels used by Jacques Cousteau on his expeditions.
Originally commissioned by Xavier Fructus, a physician and member of Cousteau’s wider exploration network, she was conceived as a serious ocean-going vessel.
Built as a 30-ton, long-keel sailing yacht, she was designed for seaworthiness and reliability — without sacrificing performance.
Thanks to her powerful yet elegant hull lines, she combines strength with speed.
Her shape allows her to move efficiently through the water, delivering steady motion, balance, and surprising pace for a vessel of her size and displacement.
Mauric’s mastery of classic yacht architecture is evident throughout: a solid hull form, harmonious proportions, and the ability to carry heavy loads while remaining responsive under sail — qualities that make her exceptionally suited for extreme and remote environments like the Arctic.
“Robust, fast, and honest, she is not just a sailboat.
She is a platform for endurance.”
WHY
Because adventure begins where comfort ends.
Because exploration is not about comfort.
It is about commitment.
Because some routes cannot be rushed.
Some winters must be endured.
And some passages only reveal themselves
if you wait long enough.
This expedition is about patience, preparation,
and the willingness to stay
when leaving is no longer an option.