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 in the Arctic, frozen into the 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 becomes part of the ice.
For months, there is no movement.
No escape.
Only preparation, endurance, and adaptation.
When the ice releases its grip the following summer, I will continue west to navigate the Northwest Passage.
OVERWINTERING IN THE ICE
Overwintering means enduring the Arctic winter while completely locked into the pack ice.
Total isolation
Temperatures far below zero
Months of darkness
No resupply
No easy way out
Everything must work.
And if it doesn’t, I must.
This is not a stopover.
It is the expedition itself.
THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE
The 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. Originally commissioned by Xavier Fructus, a member of Jacques Cousteau’s exploration network, she was conceived as a serious ocean-going vessel.
Built as a 30-ton long-keel yacht, she combines seaworthiness with strong sailing performance.
TRANSFORMATION
For nearly two decades, she sailed mainly along the Turkish coast.
For the past eight years, I have worked to bring her back to her original purpose: offshore sailing and long-distance voyages.
An initial refit in 2018 in France prepared her for the passage from Marseille, around Gibraltar, to the Netherlands.
There, she underwent a major refit. Structural elements were reinforced, systems upgraded, and the vessel was carefully modernised while preserving her original character.
Between 2021 and 2023, she sailed approximately 9,000 nautical miles across the North Atlantic to the Caribbean and back, where important lessons were learned.
Since early 2023, she has undergone her most extensive refit to date, preparing her for the expedition Into the Arctic.
CHARACTER
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 remote and demanding environments like the Arctic.
“Robust, fast, and honest, she is not just a sailboat.
She is a platform for endurance.”
WHY
Adventure begins beyond the horizon, where the unknown takes over.
I choose to go.
To stay.
To see what remains.
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.
WHY PARTNER
This is not a campaign.
It is a process.
From years of refit and preparation, to overwintering in the Arctic ice, and continuing through the Northwest Passage, this expedition offers a rare combination of authenticity, technical challenge, and storytelling.
Partners become part of that journey.