So, This Is That Northwest Passage They Were Looking For

From the Spetember 6th Chicago Tribune "Crew braves ice to sail through strait"  by Matt Pearce.

Back when I was teaching US History, I often mentioned the search for this famed passage as an incentive for much of the exploration back in the 1500s and 1600s.  Turns out, there actually was a Northwest Passage, but because it was so cold, it would have been of little use.  It still isn't.

This global warming and melting polar ice has enabled a trio of explorers to go where few have in their 31-foot fiberglass sailboat, the Belzebub II, through the M'Clure Strait in far nothern Canada.

The Belzebub II was in the Prince of Wales Strait when they received word for Canadian ice-watching officials that there was a window open to make the attempt and the ice had opened.  The decision to go through took place immediately said the crew in a Monday blog post.

The ice would return.  The attempt continued for 24-hours, without sleep and they received word that the ice was closing in behind them.  Another 12 hours and they reached their destination.

It is regarded as the first time this was accomplished by a sailboat.

Congratulations!  --Cooter