The Northwest Passage is a sea route in the North of Canada and Alaska which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This passage is interesting because it represents a short-cut to navigators: instead of having to bypass the American Continent by the South (Cape Horn) or use the Panama Canal, navigators can use this passage. It is an interesting passage, but hard to use in that it is covered by ice for 10 months of the year. There is about a 2 month window for the passage of a sailing vessel.
History
Many explorers have attempted the Northwest Passage:
The first to navigate these waters were the Inuits...
In 1490, Jean Cabot hypothesized that the North-West passage led directly to the Orient.
Since the 16th Century, Europeans have made several attempts to explore the Northwest Passage in order to develop a maritime passage that would facilitate trade with Asia. The Arctic becomes an obstacle. These expeditions continue for over 300 years.
100 years ago, Amundsen became the first to navigate the Northwest Passage, from 1903 to 1906, on Gjöa.
Since then, about 25 sailboats have successfully completed the passage, the most recent being: «Vagabond», in 2003 from the East to the West; «Nuage», in 2001/2002...
Historical Issues
Goal : The Northwest Passage may become an extremely important geostrategic maritime route. Scientists predict that, due to global warming, a large portion of ice will melt, thereby leading to the opening of this route, which will facilitate commerce between America and Europe as well as Europe and Asia.
Ice condition
The ice melts (partially) only two months of the year: August and September. It is for this reason that Babouche will attempt the passage during this period. Cf. Annex 1
