The expedition's book

You can find the expedition's book

In Sète (34)

- Bookshop « L’échapée belle »
  7, rue Gambetta
  34200 Sète

- « Librairie Sètoise »
  7, rue Alsace Lorraine
  34200 Sète

In Montpellier (34)

- Bookshop « les cinq continents »
  20, rue Jacques-Cœur
  34000 Montpellier
  Tel : +33 (0)4 67 66 46 70
  Web : www.lescinqcontinents.com

- sport's shop « EXPE »
  3, cours gambetta
  34000 MONTPELLIER
  Tel : +33 (0)4 67 58 47 69

In Ganges (34)

- Bookshop « La plume d’or »
  Rue du jeu de ballon
  34190 Ganges

In Talence (33)

- Bookshop « George »
300 cours Libération
33400 TALENCE

In Paris(75)

- polar Bookshop « GNGL », Grand Nord Grand Large
  15 rue du Cardinal Lemoine
  75005 PARIS
  Tel : +33 (0)1 40 46 05 14
  Email : infos@gngl.com
  Web : www.gngl.com

On the Web

- Magazine « multihulls world »
  Web : www.multihulls-world.com

- By our own WebSite (+ 4 euros of postage expenses), contact us

Babouche in Paris
We are back in Paris with Babouche, wich will wait one and a half month here. Because Babouche will be to the Paris'nautical exhibition from 1st to 9th September. It will be exhibit in square, in front of the principal entry. We will be present too.

/////The last pictures of expedition on-line/////

WE CROSSED THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Arrived in Upernavik in Greenland, we are happy, relieved, fulfilled but exhausted… Months, weeks, days and nights, sailing North of Alaska and Canada in the cold , the rain, the sun and… the ice ! Although we avoided carefully the ice areas, we crossed areas where the ice concentration was up to 5/10th. What a sensation to find one’s way in such an ice chaos ! Among drifting islands which become untangled, knock together and move away again. The ice moves, and quickly ! It can block a passage in the morning and disappear in the afternoon, and vice versa. It is a strange feeling to be there, as an observer, in the middle of this vastness hostile and attractive. In this austere atmosphere, Babouche is a shelter, and although its simplicity it is comfortable and warm. It finds its way between ths blocks and when there is no passage, one can spring on the ice, one pushes, one pulls to make its way. The shape and the conception of the boat are then fully justified : the hulls hit the ice, rub, and climb on it… Babouche accepts all these constraints without any problem !
The wind, it blows sometimes dangerously in the rigging, and, combined with the fog, leaves frequently a layer of ice on the ropes and shrouds.
The sea minst is omnipresent and leaves us in a grey univers… On shore as on sea, we are disconcerted by this wonderful landscape so wonderful that we would like to possess it… But everywhere we look, the same message appears : « there is nothing for you here, go away ! I tolerate your passage, but don’t even think of stopping here. » There is almost nothing, milliards of stones, three lichens, ice and endless horizon. It is in this utter destitution that we feel it, this force, this fight, this fragile balance which is life.

Thanks to all of those who have believed in us, whoo helped us, who followed our adventure, and without whom this dream would never have been reality… You are so many !

Next meeting at the Paris Boat Show, from December 1st to December 9th, 2007, you can see ther Babouche, and meet Sebastien Roubinet and his team !

/////News photos/////

Saturday, September 16th - 07:30 pm UTC - Babouche came into Upernavik's harbour. The expedition ended, the gamble is won. Sebastien and Boris have just called me, so we had shared this moment's excitement. We are very happy. They were received with great pomp. In first at sea, many boat have them join at 2, 3 nautical miles of the arrival. Then at the Harbour's pontoon where 200 person were waiting for them and surrounded by the choir. Happy time !

Saturday, September 15th
Seb and Boris are 25 nautical miles from Upernavik. Yesteday, they advanced over 15 nautical miles with oars (Babouche is equipped of rowing system) among ice. Ther was no wind, there still are no wind.

Friday, September 14th
The temperatures have been very low last night but, "strangely we haven't been cold and we slept very well, one of the best night since we left!" This morning everything was frozen: the water around them but also outside and inside Babouche. Seb and Boris don't know when they will arrive in Upernavik, the wind is very low and they have 40 miles left to cover.

Thursday, September 13th
Seb and Boris are 50 nautical miles from Upernavik, the wind calmed down and is about to turn, which means to arrive before the wind till Upernavik. Can they expect an arrival under spinaker? For the moment, they enjoy the wonderful landscapes in shore, on hudge glaciers. Lucky them

Wednesday, September 12th
Babouche is still stuck, since a couple of hours, by the gusts of wind (up till 40 knots). They advance nevertheless slowly direction Upernavik.
The ice is more and more dense and it is snowing! The last night has been very hard. The wind was light and they had to fight to join the coast (to protect themselves from the future gusts of wind) and to force one's way through the ice, under the snow and in the darkness.

Tuesday, September 11th
Seb and Boris left Nuussuaq yesterday, direction Upernavik where Babouche will be shipped to Denmark by cargo. OUr two sailors will then fly back home to France and Belgium respectively. So far, they are not very fast (no wind) but they have less pressure and they take advantage of their last days of sailing on Babouche. Ice is more and more present since a couple of hours... unpredictable and very fast!"
In the name of the whole team, we would like to thank you for all your warm messages, of support and congratulation sent on board and ashore!

////New photo////

Sunday, September 9th - Gamble won !
GAMBLE WON, CHALLENGE SUCCEDED, DREAM REALIZED... for Babouche, Sebastien, Anne-Lise, Eric and Boris!!!! Babouche reached Greenland ! The north west passage (4500 miles) has been crossed without engine in 3 months and 21 days! A lot of fatigue but an incredible happiness for Sebastien and Boris but also a lot of emotion for the whole team.

A new partner just joined us, welcome and thanks tp GNGL

Saturday, September 8th
Babouche is 30 miles away from Nuusuaq. At last the shore, at last a village, at last Greenland, at last the end of this long and exhausting crossing of the Baffin sea! But it is as well the beginning of euphoria and relief ! We are all very excited by Babouche's arrival in Greenland, which will mark the end of the expedition and then its success. Seb and Boris are soaked and tired because, even if right now they sail quietly under spinnaker, they had hard conditions during the crossing of the Baffin sea. So, we wish them now a good sailing till Greenland, under the sun... before they continue South to Upernavik, Babouche's last stage.

Friday, September 7th
Babouche, Seb and Boris continue their way South-East to join Kraulshavn/Nuussuaq, the first village since a bit more than 3 weeks, since the switch of the crew at Cambridge Bay. They will stop, of course, before they continue South direction Upernavik. The wind stopped, the temperatures rise a bit but the ice is still present.

Thursday, September 6th
They progress! Currently, they are heading East. The north-east wind prevent them to take the direct way to the closest Greenland coast, they will have to wait a bite before they will reach the shore. Then, they will sail South along the West coast of Greenland down to Upernavik, endpoint of the expedition!

Wednesday, September 5th
Seb and Boris left Devon Island yesterday evening. The night has been hard with a 20 knot wind and a very agressive sea, but they progressed well and they have only 125 miles left to join the Greenland coast. The wind and the sea kept down. Everything is fine in the Baffin sea."

Tuesday, September 4th - "Cold but fantastic !"
Icy sailing to join the east point of Devon Island : lots of ice, between 2 and 3 cm thick. Not enough for Babouche to sail on it but enough to make its progression delicate, They made their way, pushing the ice sheets. In spite of that, Seb and Boris are happy, euphoric and enthousiast in such a wonderful scenery ! A lot of ice on the boat as well, the stays are frozen, that doubles their size. Everything is fine on board and they are now ready to cross the Baffin sea.

Monday, September 3rd
Seb and Boris managed to reach the coast, to anchor Babouche in a bay and though stop their drift (due to current). Once ashore, they walked on the glaciers, and they met two polar bears that they scared away with cries and firecrackers. They are ready to leave again despite the ice, more and more present ! Indeed, as well as many icebergs and ice sheets, the water, at the end of the bay, start to freeze... But for the moment, nothing that could stop Babouche's navigation.
Seb and Boris would like to thank you for all the messages that they received on board

Sunday, September 2nd
As you can see on the daily position map (see above), Seb and Boris have moved backward 9 miles since yesterday. Still no wind, a strong front current and no possibility to anchor (to deep):"we don't choose, we undergo". Conclusion:"the Baffin sea crossing is not for today!" There is quite a lot of ice around them, the night watchs (even though there is no real night) become very cold and the deck is turning white. But fortunately the days under the sun are warmer : 10°C yesterday, so that Babouche can recover its original color.

Saturday, September 1st
After Babouche on the wind, in the cold, and the strong wind... Babouche in the wind under the sun, here is without wind at all, with a strong current. At the time of the last watch (4 hours of navigation), we haven't move forward, no no ! However we have moved 2 miles... backward ! Keep it easy: it let us the time to observe and appreciate the numerous icebergs and glaciers along the Devon's Island Coasts.

Friday, August 31th...follow-up
After a tough night to fight cold, the sun's shining and we are before the wind with the spinnaker. The morale is high. Go for Greenland !

Friday, August 31th
We have finally succed to leave the moorage and thus the baffin land to join the south of Devon Island. Result: 80 miles covered, with 20-25 knots of wind on the wind (face wind), a temperature sometimes 1 below zero without forgetting the snow. We let you imagine! A very cold and tiring sailing thus, but we are fine, and very happy of our day and we enjoyed the wonderful scenery that was waiting for us: many icebergs and glaciers!

Thursday, August 30th
We still have to wait for the wind come down. If the weather forecast will be exact, we shall be able to leave today direction the North of the Baffin Island and the Devon Island.

Wednesday, August 29th
Finally, we have taken advantage of a calm spell to leave Somerset island and join the Baffin sea. All the crossing has been done on one board, but on the wind. It is wet and iced (around 0°C) that we draw alongside at Bower harbor. We are currently on Brodeur peninsula, the wind is blowing again, we will have to wait again to continue North

Tuesday, August 28th
Still stuck, we have to wait for the wind come down. We are loosing patience since 4 days.

Sunday, August 26th
There are two days that we are mooring in Batty's bay because of strong and face wind! we have however risked an exit of the bay yesterday that has been ended by an immediate come back to mooring (30 knots of wind in the wrong direction). We have thus enjoyed the wonderful and arid montains of Somerset Island to bring the circulation back to our legs, seen some muskox and some big bear traces (as long as it is only traces!). We plan to leave the bay today, follow as much as we can to the north until the south of Devon island to then head east, direction Greenland.

Friday, August 24th
Today ice on the horizon! But this time it’s very small blocks (not impeding for navigation). And in the middle of the blocks, we perceived, for the first time, narwhals. We are in full Arctic magic.

Thursday, August 23th
We haven’t gone forth too much since yesterday because of a quite strong and very unstable wind. This is therefore not because we wouldn’t like to, we are even hurry to leave the Somerset Island coasts populated by far too many polar bears for our taste

Eric's impressions about this experience on Babouche
“After 6 weeks on board of Babouche, I am back to civilization. I was waiting for trials and hard times, we have had some- and I would have been disappointed to have been deprived of!-: ice, cold, fog, long days without wind, on the wind, the mast that cracked, on the first day! Of course, what I keep in mind from these long navigation days (24h in a row!), this is only happiness: the happiness of being permeated with polar environment, with its wild world life; now, I don’t see with the same eyes this area of the globe, this is not empty as we could imagine. Our meetings with the wildlife (caribous, walrus, …) can testify, as well as those with the inhabitants that welcomed us very warmly. I am happy-and privileged-to have taken part of this wonderful adventure, contributed to its close and deserved success, and to have been teach the arctic navigation (thanks Seb!)! This is not so common to have a sailing course in Bering and Beaufort seas, with a teacher as Seb! May the winds be gentle to Greenland !”

Wednesday, August 22th
We are stationed, stopped by 30 knots of wind. This morning, we used for the first time our “anti-bear firecracker”: we have been awaked by an enormous white mass really too curious that came rub on Babouche’s body. We have thus operated a firecracker, always keep on hand, to keep him away. We have 500 miles left to reach Thulé in Greenland.

Tuesday, August 21th - Bellot strait
Which is the roof of the snobbery! Sailing before the wind with spinnaker in the Bellot strait ! Babouche, Seb and Boris did it ! In fact, they already have crossed half of the strait way on the wind with strong wind and the rest before the wind (they are in the center of a depression). They are now at the end of the strait which begin on the Boothia Golf. They are at 72°00' latitude N and observed their first polar bears, some alone, others with their babies. So far Babouche afraid them and we are really happy about that ! However, not shade of an iceberg… in this strait well-known for it strong stream and the high ice density. It is however not finished; many miles are left to join the Baffin Sea and reach the earth of Greenland !

Sunday, August 19th
The sun's shinning again and we approach to Bellot strait in a more favourable climate (only 47 nautical miles). The ice and the fog have disappears...for the moment ! We are on the wind and against big current that force us to pull Babouche from the coast.

Saturday, August 18th
In spite of presence of ice and flog, we have progressed well since 24 hours. We are at 100 nautical miles to Bellot strait. The ice is more and more thick but for the moment Babouche haven't trouble forcing one's way through it. The cold is too more and more heavy and we are beginning to see frost on the sails and rope. These weather conditions force us to be attentive and concentrating hard. So we steer all the times. But we are on top form and happy to be here.

Friday, August 17th
Though we are approaching the King William island, the ice has appeared. It's no very thick but the last night, we had to push it to force one's waythrough the ice. With ice, cold and especially seals, who are playing with Babouche.

Thursday, August 16th
Wind became calm, so we left. We head for King William island. Our worry now is the ice, to know its frequency and its density. For that, we are very good informed, too for the weather forecast (thanks to Clément).

Wednesday, August 15th
Yesterday, we crossed 45 nautical miles before stopping for the night. We haven't left this morning because of the wind too strong (30 knots). We are waiting for a lighter wind. The weather is cloudy and outside is 7°C.

Tuesday, August 14th
Babouche and its crew have left Cambridge Bay this morning direction King William Island.

Monday, August 13th
Here we are, the change of crew is done ! Boris is arrived on top form and enthusiastic, ready to take over from Eric. Eric leaves Babouche and he feels very moving after such a great trip. Seb, Boris and Babouche are ready to go to the North. Today the little Babouche's repairings have been finished. Then the crew has been invited to eat on the coast-gards's boat.

Saturday, August 11th - Cambridge Bay
We arrived to Cambridge Bay in Nunavut, very happy, a little tired but happy ! Because its the second stage we cross successfully, in time. We have time to spare too to rest and prepare the boat before the arrival of Boris and the departure of Eric. Eric who mad the most of the last hours of navigation before the wind along the coasts of Victoria island.

News pictures

Friday, August 10th
We stoped to let pass a gale. We took a walk and admired the grand landscape of this mountainous region. We still have 3 days to traverse 90 nautical miles and to be to Cambridge Bay...for the moment wind is blowing enough for us to take along there.

Tuesday, August 7th
Wind increased as we expected ! It still 275 nautical miles to Cambridge Bay, where we have to be at August, 13th. All is well and temperature is good (5 to 10°C). During this time, Boris get ready to leave France to meet Babouche.

Monday, August 6th
Finally the wind is blowing since yesterday from 5 to 10 knots. So we progress well and the sun is shining ! It still only 380 nautical miles to Cambridge Bay.

Sunday, August 5th
We had a break at Cap Batharst to take water. We hope that the wind will still blowing because we are at only 500 nautical miles to Cambridge Bay. Still sending iridium sms. We are recieving it well and they are getting us well.

Thursday, August 2nd
We left Tuktoyaktuk Tuesday evening direction the Amundsen gulf and Victoria island. Wind yet is light and ahead, we are advancing at 3 knots, we are quiet ! We profit to read two captivating books, which we recommend : Alaska from James A. Michener and Aventure arctique, ma vie dans les glaces du Nord from Peter Freuchen.

news pictures

Tuesday, July 31th - Tuktoyaktuk
We arrived few houres ago at Tuktoyaktuk where we have been very well welcomed. After we met the customs, we assisted to a cutting up of a little whale. We plan to leave Tuktoyaktuk this evening direction Cambridge Bay (for the switch of the crew) in 600 nautical miles. We expect to be in time, August 13th, namely that we should not have ice anymore.

Monday, July 30th
Wind is very light but we still advance at 3 knots with Gennaker. In 60 nautical miles we will stop at Tuktoyaktuk, little town Inuvialuit located in North West Territories.

Sunday, July 29th
We crossed the border and are in Canada on Yukon's coasts. The canadian coast gards visited us because they were curious to see Babouche. Wind is still ahead but now light , there is no fog anymore, it's clearer !

Saturday, July 28th - Canada soon !
We will arrived at the border between Alaska and Canada in 5 nautical miles. Wind stopped but we still have fog and drizzle.

Thursday, July 26th
Seb and Eric left Kaktovic very quickly, they crossed few nautical miles and have stopped again because of the strong wind and the rough sea. Fit after a good night (12 hours), they are ready to leave to Canada.

Wednesday, July 25th
We are in Kaktovic, one of the last Alaskan villages before the Canadian border. We benefit from this stop to see to the customs and to take rest, one good night, because sailing is wearying since a few days : a lot of ice, relatively strong wind ahead, temperatures around 0°C and very thick permanent fog. So much so that concentration and vigilance became our two watchword ! Yesterday we were nevertheless made surprise, a growler has escaped to our attention, we did not have time to react, we were already above . Would Babouche be in a hurry to slide on the ice?

Tuesday, July 24th
Yet a lot of ice ! But most of the time we sail close to the coast, protected by shallows. The other moments when we sail offshore and we surrouned of ice we should be fight one's way. we approach the Canadian border.

Monday, July 23th
We continue to admire and make the most of the ice landscape. There is more and more ice but it does no more disturb our progress. In spite of the fog and the wind which is ahead, we progress very well.

Saturday, July 21th
"Wind, ice and fog" are the conditions that we have since our departure of Barrow. That begins to look like in arctic navigation ! we had one tiring day : the wind (10-15 knots) and the current ahead, bushy fog and a lot of ices in the middle of which we should be fight one's way, all this make dangerous navigation and make us concentrated and highly strung. Finally we approached the coast to sail along, where there is no ice because no sea bottom; the blocks of ice (draft : 2 - 4 meters) beach before attain the coast, what forms one sea ice free passage : one highway for Babouche !

You will be able to hear Sebastien on Europe 1, in the broadcasting "C'est arrivé demain" with Laurent Cabrol - Sunday, July 22th and all other Sunday of the summer between 9h00 and 10h00 at the morning.

Friday, July 20th - Live
Frame (divx) about :

Seb making-up about the first two months of the expedition

Seb goes back of the dismast

A little guided tour of Babouche

Thursday, July 19th - Barrow
We are still in Barrow, blocqued by strong gale, North-East winds 25 knots. The wind push he ice toward coast, we can see passing the blocks of ice very quickly ahead the city. Today, we we went to "Point Barrow", the point which located at the NorthEast of the city, to check the condition of the sea and ice : all is good, the point is not blocked by the ice, but what happen after the point ? We will leave Barrow tomorow morning, the wind will be less strong, we will see on the spot if babouche can pass or not.

Wednesday, July 18th - Ice, Ice !
Babouche arrived in barrow : "The last night, what surprise to discover our first blocks of ice, it was mad and magic at the same time ! we crossed 25 nautical milles through ices, we saw too few walrus...
...We are there, one new step : the ice !"
New pictures ... and ...

... one movie (download QuickTime and click below)

Tuesday, July 17th
Babouche is to 80 nautical milles of barrow : "Yet little wind but current which blow us in good way and a boat faster. Indeed, we had unload a few effects (giving in villages), together made lighter and relieved the boat : we see the difference now !" Seb and Eric go toward Barrow.

Soon, you will be able to hear Sebastien on Europe 1, more precision in the immediate future.

Sunday, July 15th
wind being slight, Seb and Eric profited from it to stop a few nautical milles after Point Hope and bring the circulation back to the legs. Indeed, move on Babouche are limited and these stops make good, are even required ! This time, it is not bears that they saw but caribou : a great big herd of caribou, not 10, not 20 but at least 2000 caribou according to them. Spectacular !

Saturday, July 14th
Seb and Eric had call at Point Hope, then they left again to profit by the wind which rises South. They are to 300 nautical milles of Barrow and so of Beaufort sea where they will see their first ices. This morning, two very curious walrus followed them a long time.

Friday, July 13th
The wind rises gently : 5, 6 knot maximum speed what is enough for Babouche to advance a minimum. Seb and Eric are to 50 nautical milles of Point Hope (Tikigaq) where they will stop. They are in full form, The peaceful conditions allowed them to take rest.

Thursday, July 12th - polar circle
Babouche crossed the Arctic polar circle at 66° 33' 39" North. The wind is light and the flog is heavy, they principally advance thanks to the current, which is with them.

Return to the earth
3 months in Canada and Alaska and I am back in France. I realize of my luck to have lived a so beautiful adventure, as many on the water as on the earth.
Flashback :
After 1 month of boatyard and travel (7000km), the departure of expedition was slowly made ; We were very tired and the boat too much loaded (350kg of food among other things) but aware of be finally arrived there, we did not have more than to make the most of our boat. It is what we did during 1 month and half and 1250 nautical milles !
And in spite of the not very advantageous weather conditions, we learned how to look at and appreciate under the fog, rain and drizzle and what a viewing !
Now Seb, Eric and babouche are on the way towards ices, a second delicate and very important step which we will follow with interest.

Anne-lise

Wednesday, July 11th - Bering behind
It is done. Babouche is now at sea of Chukchi. The passage of the Bering strait was done quietly...some with current and little with wind : 20 nautical milles since yesterday. During this time, Adrian Flanagan, that Seb and Eric met in Nome, prepares to leave Nome in the direction of NorthEast passage with its boat "Barrabas", to see : http://www.alphaglobalex.com/

Tuesday evening, July 10th - Bering in view
They are to 10 nautical milles of Bering strait, Siberie is in view, diomede island too but the wind does not blow, they will have to be patient and they can make that : dip and hairdo..."it was hot today and the water was not cold", however, current appeared, that is likely to be less funny !

Tuesday, July 10th
Everything is well aboard since Seb and Eric left Nome and they are no more than to 45 nautical milles of Bering strait. They crossed the last 55 nautical milles on the wind and continue to benefit permanent daylight.
A little note live from Babouche : "For the moment, we advance well thanks to good weather since 60° North and midnight sun. Contrary to the first 1250 nautical milles during which we had 40 days of bad weather (wind, rain, fog). Seb

Sunday, July 8th - Nome
Hello, here the last pictures about our morning time and superb arrived at Nome. A really welcome again at Nome, press is there and a local man invite us to the restaurant tonight. Lifetime is hard !
We will leave again tomorrow morning for the Bering strait after a good night.
The mast tough it out and the weather forecast is mild. Kiss to all.
Seb and Eric

Saturday, July 7th - They are making a great headway!
Despite the return of bad weather, winds are favourable (15 knots beat-abeam) and Babouche took advantage of those to cover about 150 miles, during the last 48 hours. The good weather conditions combine with the fact that there are no night any more, allow Seb and Eric to get on going around the clock and steadily. They hope to reach Nome tomorrow evening. A little wink, Babouche has just passed the latitude of Stockholm. They are in fighting form and are good rested.

Friday, July 6th - Off they go
Babouche has been masted yesterday afternoon. Seb and Éric took advantage of favourable weather conditions and left Tununak yesterday evening. They are raring to go, however they are easy with the boat and the mast which is finishing drying ! The sun (Yes...sun is shining...finally) never set down but winds are missing (only 2 knots). During this time, Lise has arrived in Montreal and is happy to meet Dom and Rom again.

Click here to see the last pictures.

Thursday, July 5th - News from Lise
Lise is arrived yesterday evening in Whitehorse, Canada after driving back with Cécile the car which stayed in Anchorage. She sell the car today and will fly back to Montreal tonight. She will arrive tomorrow morning !

Thursday, July 5th - Mast repaired
Seb and Éric received the materials shipped by Lise from Anchorage on Tuesday night. Seb, helped by Eric, immediately started to work on the mast: grinding, stratification and resin until sunset (2:30 am...). The mast is then drying in a hangar inaugurated for the occasion, ideally heated for the drying time... Today evening, they will probably put the mast again. They announce good weather conditions to leave on friday. Lise, Seb and Éric, manage to do all the necessary to repair in 5 days and be ready to launch Babouche again towards the North West Passage...They thanks you for all the message of support received...

NB: Due to technical problems, we have difficulties to update easily the website and it's temporary impossible to update the gallery. We are working on it and hope to fix our problem as soon as possible. Thanks

Tuesday July 3rd – Recap of the last days
Since Saturday morning, a lot of events happened. Saturday in the late afternoon, Eric and Charles have reached Babouche which had just arrived in Toksook. The main event of the expedition was the first crew change with the departure of Lise and the arrival of Eric. Lise after one month and a half of sailing, had a heavy heart to leave Babouche. After spending the night all together, Eric and Seb have sailed away under good weather conditions (15 knots before the wind). Anne-Lise and Charles went back by plane to Anchorage. 1 h 30 after their departure, Seb and Eric overpassed Cape Vancouver (west of Toksook). While weather conditions were still ideal, Babouche, with genaker, entered a violent facing heave area. As they were going to haul dowm, the mast broke in its middle...hopefully Eric and Sebastien haven’t been injured and were able to get back all the stuff, and put on a temporary mast to join Tununak. From there, they managed to call Lise who was just arriving in Anchorage. She was able to insure the logistic to provide essential materials to repair...and pursue the expedition...Lise, helped by Kirsten, has managed to found carbon fiber and to send the all on Monday evening. Today (Tuesday), Seb should receive the fiber in Tununak; they are settled in a hangar to repair the mast. They will repair tonight, make it dry tomorrow and eventually leave the day after tomorrow...depending on weather conditions. Indeed, right now conditions are pretty bad which let Seb says: “anyway since yesterday we couldn’t have sailed!”. Seb, Lise and Eric would like to thanks very much Kirsten and John for their presence and help. Thanks also to Marion. You can send your support by Iridium by clicking here: http://messaging.iridium.com/ and fill the number: 881631524868

Saturday, June 30th, 5:00 am (gmt)
A story of tide...Just after their call yesterday, Seb and Lise have been blocqued again by low tide. Surprised by island not shown on the map, they realised that the water in the entire bay was sinking ! They stayed stuck for 14 hours waiting the next high tide. After that, they sailed close-hauled and will continue over the night. They should arrive in Toksook on Saturday night (local time).
NB: It's possible that the next news will be posted on the visitor's book, if not next news on Monday night.

Thursday, June 28th, 11:00 pm (gmt).
Babouche left Platinum on thursday morning, good winds led Babouche to saill 50 miles. They actually sail to the North trying to reach Toksook Bay where they will meet Eric. Anne-Lise is preparing herself to quit Babouche and let her place to Eric. Eric just quit Montreal with Charles. They will be in Anchorage in the evening and in Toksook on saturday afternoon.

Pictures
New pictures are now online, please visit the Gallery.

Thursday, June 28th, 1h00 am (gmt).
Seb and Lise are still blocqued in Platinum. Indeed 30-35 knots winds obliged then to stay there. They will try to leave during the night (wednesday to thursday) or thursday morning. They would like to reach Toksook Bay, place of the first teammate change. In Platinum, Lise and Seb have been warmly welcome by John and Mary and would like to thank them particularly. During this time, Eric is arrived in Montreal. After doing some logistical stuff, He will quit on friday to Anchorage. His arrival on Babouche is scheduled on June 30th.

STILL IN PLATINUM
Wednesday, June 27, Babouche and its crew is still in Platinum, surprised by low tide...here is the message they sent yesterday :"We are stuck by the low tide ! So we will leave Platinum tonight [Tuesday for them] to try to cross the bay. By passing the Newheman Cape and then leaving Bristol Bay we also quit the country of aleutians islands and the Aleuts, for the North and the Eskimo, precisely the Yupik here in Platinum. And that's it: our big first: after having tasted it in the books, we ate seal fat and dryed bear, and that's excellent ! A family came to propose us a shower, do laundry and invite us to eat with them... Whatever the origins are, the welcoming stay the same, It's very marvelous and it warm our heart ! We are happy, very happy, even if we lost a day of sailing." - Seb and Lise

PLATINUM
Tuesday, June 26th 4:00 am (gmt). They arrived today in Platinum, south of Kuskokwim Bay. Morale was very good after a non rainy day and with quartering wind.A lots of steerage but a lot of pleasure to sail and to finally quit the Bristol bay. During this time, Eric is preparing himself to join Babouche on June 29th or 30th.

Monday, June 25th 2:00 ( gmt )
The sun is being shy but it is coming back slowly for the great pleasure of the crew. However, wind is missing. Babouche should soon reach cape Newhenam.

Sunday, June 24th 1:20 ( gmt )
Babouche didn't actually spent the night on earth. Seb and Lise have taken to the road around 1 am because winds had changed and were, at last, blowing in the right direction. The crew is in the pink and look up to the landscape. The Nunavachak Bay's shore are at only 4 miles and right now babouche has no wind. Seb and Lise hope to set foot on earth to dry their stuff rain-drenched. Rain shower are quasi-permanent.

Saturday, June 23rd 3:00 ( gmt )
Babouche reached a shelter between Nushagak bay and Bristol bay. Seb and Lise have stopped after a long and hard day of sailing. They will spend the night there and hope for better weather condition tomorrow.

Friday, June 22nd 4:00 am (gmt)
Seb and Lise are in the middle of Bristol bay facing strong winds (30 knots). The next shelter is at 20 miles from their position. Winds are supposed to weaken in the early evening for them.

Wednesday, June 20th
Seb and Lise are still in Port Heiden. The bad weather condition forced them to stay there. They took advantage of this waiting to reinforce the other center -board. They'll leave as soon as weather condition become better.

PORT HEIDEN
Tuesday, June 19th, 4:00 AM (gmt). Lise and Sébastien had to do a technical stop yesterday in Port Heiden. Babouche has encountered its first damage. The centre-board axis go out its place and the center-board had rip up the center-board hole on 40 cm. Water has then fill the starboard passenger-cell. When they opened the trapdoor, there was 30cm of water inside...Seb and Lise reach Port Heiden bailing out the water ! Warmly welcome, a dweller gave them some fiber glass to repair. Yesterday night, the fiber stratum were done and Babouche should be okay to go to sea again today if the weather conditions are good.

BRISTOL BAY
Monday, June 18th, 4:00 AM (gmt) Babouche left Port Moller and they sail along the shore to avoid bad weather anouced on Bristol Bay. They were very touched by the welcome from the port Moller inhabitants and by seeing all this people on the beach to say good bye !
New pictures are now online, please visit the Gallery.

PORT MOLLER
Saturday, June 16th, 4:00 AM (gmt) Seb and Lise are in Port Moller, fishery ot North coast of Aleutians iaslands. They were warmly welcome by the inhabitants. They should leave this sunday to cross the Bristol Bay. Whereas winds are generally from Sout South-East (according to local people), at the moment, they have winds coming from North North-West.

BERING SEA
A new step is reached by Lise and Seb (06/15/07 at 4:00 AM gmt), with the entrance into Bering sea. The false pass was really a "false pass"...at low tide. So they wait the high tide to reach the Bering sea, cape now to the North. Dozens of Sea Otter were present at the end of the pass to see the famous "cevenol" catamaran ! There was many happiness on Babouche !

BABOUCHE IS LEAVING PACIFIC OCEAN
Wednesday June 13th around 1h30 AM (gmt), Seb and Lise were at the mouth of the False Pass which will allow them to reach the Bering Sea. The rainy day (as usual) was first regulated by 35 knots winds (three reef in mainsail) and then by no wind. The summits of the region (more than 3000 m) are gorgeous on pictures but also concentrate the clouds (and then the rain) and influence the winds (and no wind). So I invite you to encourage our adventurers by sending them satellite message by clicking here: http://messaging.iridium.com/
at this phone number : 881631524868

Tuesday, June 12th, 1h30 PM (gmt)
Babouche was near King Cove. They sail close-hauled and hope to reach the False Pass soon. They are 37 miles far from this little passage where they will be able to sail into the Bering Sea. First big step of the expedition.

Saturday, June 9th, 1h30 AM (gmt)
Followed by lots of whales, Babouche still progress along the Aleutian Islands. They will soon reach the Bering sea and set the course to the North. Seb and Lise would like to thanks Nicolas for updating the website during the last weeks.

Pictures !!!
New pictures are in the Gallery !!!!!!!!!

Thursday June 7, 1:30 AM (gmt)
The latest news directly from Seb and Lise :
"Hi everyone ! From Perryville, where we stopped to let strong unexpected winds calm down. Everything goes fine here for both of us and we're trying to make the best of the adverse climate conditions. Perryville people offered us a very very warm welcome, like everywhere else since our departure, it's really magic ! The crew member change is still planned for the end of June but the place where Éric will join Babouche is still unknown.
See you very soon. Seb et Lise"

Wednesday June 6, 00:30 AM (gmt)
Babouche has reached Cape Seal in a deep fog. Séb and Lise pinpointed that the sun showed off only 4 days on 18 since the departure and that after a rough start-up, everything is in order. The crew member switch is planned for the end of the month.

Monday June 4
Séb et Lise enjoyed a great calm and sunny day before catching again strong winds. Babouche had the breathtaking chance to discover on its way an impressive colony of approximately 60 seals. Meanwhile, Éric, the next crew member, is beginning his travel arrangements.

Sunday June 3, 00:30 AM (gmt)
Babouche crossed approximately 100 nautic miles since yesterday, thanks to the good weather conditions. The shy sun will allow Seb and Lise to dry thier equipment. Strong winds are planned for tomorrow.

Friday June 1, 1:30 AM (gmt)
The strong wind, the rough sea and the rain have given place to more gentle sailing conditions. The numerous grizzli bears and some humpback whales accompany Babouche during its trip. Everything is fine and Seb and Lise deeply enjoy your numerous SMS. Keep on sending them some remote support !!!

Thursday May 31, 2:30 AM (gmt)
Babouche crossed approximately 25 Nautic miles since yesterday. Even if the wind is present, the rough sea makes it hard to navigate and forced Seb and Lise to find shelter at Geographic Harbour. Grizzli bears are numerous and even curious to the point of approaching Babouche at less than 15 feet.

Wednesday May 30, 11:00 PM (gmt)
After several days waiting for a more gentle wind, Babouche left its anchorage. Séb and Lise stayed with local people who offered them a very warm welcome. They enjoyed spaghetti with moose-style bolognaise (moose meat is cheaper than beef) and "pretty close" grizzli visits.

Sunday May 27, 2:30 AM (gmt)
Babouche left Homer heading towards Cape Douglas. These last days, the wind was shy and let Séb and Lise enjoy the presence of porpoises. One of the surrounding volcanoes was active and offered a great show. An overnight sail was planed to recover the delay.

HOMER
Babouche is still in Homer which they plan to leave today or tomorrow (depending on weather condition). They solve their problem with the navigation software and they found precise maps of the region. New picture are in the Gallery

Wednesday, may 23rd
Babouche and his crew are at Homer for a little technical stop. The map on the navigation software aren't precise enough to sail safely in this region. They hope to find their need before leaving again.

Monday, May 21st, at 10:15pm (gmt)
Lise and Seb are at the middle of the Cook inlet. They sail between snowy volcanoes and offshore oil platform...All is doing well and they will stop in the island for the night.

Sunday, May 20th, at 9:15pm (gmt)
They are close to the end of the first bassin (Gompertz Channel). They still sail close-hauled and their progression is regulated by the tides which are very high in this region. Their speed was 9 knots. Sébastien is satisfied with the boat behviour even if it is heavly load (the weight will decrease each day !).

BELUGA
Saturday, May 19th, Seb and Lise are near Beluga at 6:00 pm (local) 36 miles from Anchorage. They are fine !

OFF THEY GO !!!!
Babouche and his crew cast of at 10:30 AM (local time) to the direction of the Greenland, at around 5000 nautic miles and passing trough the NorthWest passage ! Below a recomposed picture of the departure seen from the webcam.

LIVE DEPARTURE !!!!
Seb and Lise just announced their departure. They should leave Anchorage this Saturday, May 19th aroud 10am local time (2pm in Montreal, 7pm GMT). And you can see it live thanks to a webcam found today. Go see the departure of Babouche by clicking here ! (push F5 to refresh the picture) or on the picture below.
Planified schedule : 10am : Babouche loading at pontoon, 11am departure.

LAST PREPARATIONS
Seb and Lise are settling the last details before leaving (sell the car and the trailer). Sam is going back to Vancouver. New pictures are on line in the Galerie. See below the ice cover state around Alaska. Water is free of ice until Bering Strait.

image IUP university of Bremen

BABOUCHE LAUNCHED
John, Sam, Lise and Seb sailed in the Cook inlet, in front of Anchorage. They moved the boat to free the boat launch. Now they have to load, pack up an buy the last stuff before leaving. We all wait for an imminent departure...be ready, they leave soon !!!!
Until then, there is new pictures in the Gallery.

BABOUCHE ON TV
A small video from KTUU TV2 News talks about The Babouche Expedition. Let's see it there. You can also go on this web page : From Anchorage to Greenland on a catamaran

PICTURE GALLERY UPDATED
Go see the latest pictures of Canada and Alaska crossing in the Gallery

THEY ARRIVED IN ANCHORAGE !!!
Saturday, May 12th at 9:30 (HAE), Seb, Lise, Sam and Babouche have finally arrived in Anchorage, expedition starting point. After 7500 km and a little more than 8 days, they are tired but happy to be there. More news very soon on the future days schedule...

PICTURES
The Gallery has been updated ! Go see it there !

BABOUCHE IN ALASKA
Friday, May 11th, 11:00 PM (HAE), The expedition is arrived in Allaska (USA). There was no problem to pass the border and the convoy stop for the night few km farther. Only 500 km remain to Anchorage !

WHITEHORSE
Friday May 11th, 11:00 AM (HAE), They are in Whitehorse. They will do a quick stop before driving trough the Alaskan glacier valleys.

AT THE YUKON BORDER
Thursday, May 10th, 10:00 PM (HAE), Seb, Lise and Sam are at Swift River, Yukon. It's only 7PM local time and they will continue their way to Whitehorse. This morning, 2cm of snow fall. They go trough some little mountain pass. They also saw some buffalos and caribous. There is 1400 km remaining.

BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ROCKIES
Wenesday, May 9th, 10:00 PM (HAE), Seb, Lise and Sam are in Fort Nelson, in North British Columbia. They drove 5600 km since Montreal. They did their first tire change on the trailer. Some snow fall this morning onthe road, just enough to whitening the summits.

SOON...THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
Tuesday, May 8th, 11:30 PM (HAE), Theconvoy is 50 Km after Grande Prairie (Alberta). Tomorrow, they should reach British Columbia and then arrive in the Rocky Mountains !

BABOUCHE IN ALBERTA
Monday, May 7th, 11:20 PM (HAE), Seb and Lise are in Alberta Beach, Alberta. Since yesterday, they cross Saskatchewan and arrived in Edmonton (Alberta). They met Sam who will drive with then to Anchorage. Tonight, They are 70km west of Edmonton and then halfway from Montreal and Anchorage.
NB: You can follow their daily position by clicking on the link above.

RAIN, FOG, ...AND MANITOBA
This Sunday night, Seb and Lise sleep at Russell, Manitoba. Demanding day, with 100 km of bad paved road which treatend the trailer pin, Fog and rain to symplify the situation. Between two rain shower, they have saw a Lynx and a lot of deer.
NB: You can send them sattelite message from the web, Go on : http://messaging.iridium.com/ and fill the phone number : 881631524868. It's free and encourage Seb and Lise.

Thunder Bay
Saturday, May 5th at 5:30, Seb and Lise were at Thunder Bay. They did a stop before going always more West. They will now go accross the great plain...
They saw their first bear and some moose !

Wawa is close
Seb and Lise were near the shore of Lake Superior at 22:30 pm this friday. Between Sault Ste-Marie and Wawa. They have travel 1100 km and stop for the night. Tomorrow they are trying to reach Manitoba.

BABOUCHE, ON THE ROAD
Montreal, Thursday May 3rd at 6:50 pm (HAE), Sébastien and Anne-Lise have left to the West coast to Anchorage at 7500 km from here. After a day of finishing some details, they left the Lachine Canal at sunset. It's the beginning of a new adventure: Cross Canada with Babouche anchored on the trailer. The picture of the "convoy" trying to take his place on the highway seemed a bit surrealistic !

At 10:40 pm, Seb and Lise were just after Ottawa (Canada capital city !). After 211 km, only 7289 km are left. The convoy though it out and particularly appretiate the good quality of Ontario roads. Babouche was the attraction of the traffic jam, allowing some driver to ask some question about "the big yellow thing on the trailer".

BABOUCHE,
"COUP DE COEUR" of MILLET EXPEDITION PROJECT

BABOUCHE, YELLOW LIFE
Babouche modification are ending and recover some colors ! There is of course some stuff to finish before the great departure... Thanks the helping hands and generosity of all !...Seb et Lise.

 

MONTREAL, APRIL 15, 2007, 23h53

 

BABOUCHE IN CONSTRUCTION SITE
Babouche left the marina of Lachine and was welcomed by Eric Tabardel and the team of "Bleu voile océanique" in the shed where they build a very beautiful boat of race Bleu (40 '). During 15 days, Bleu will thus have a new neighbour of construction site. As for Seb and Lise, they will have for neighbour a very nice team. Thanks to the marina of Lachine, to Eric, to Damien and to Jacques.
We also met Moritz Lehmann, professor at the department of sciences of the ground and the atmosphere of the University from Quebec in Montreal, for which the crew of Babouche will take water sample during the expedition.

LISTEN TO THE SONG OF THE WEEK
"La simplicité" of Jean sylvestre

ANNOUNCED DEPARTURE - PREPARATIONS
The departure approaches, still a few weeks and will be ready for us, finally! Large a thank you with all those, friendly, families and partners who supported us and helped to take the departure.

DECISIVES TESTS
That's it! After some modifications on skates, Babouche slides and goes very well on the ice!
A lot of pleasure and emotion between water and ice.

to see videos, download QuickTime free of charge

BABOUCHE'S EVENNING IN MONTREAL
On Friday, March 2nd from 7 pm to 10 pm in the bar
LES PAS SAGES
951 Rachel Est
514.522.9773
Come to see the film of the expedition 2006 and to listen to the music of Jean Sylvestre.

AND IT SLIDES...
For 3 days, the team makes take out Babouche of the harbour with the strong wind of face and on a surface or frozen or covered with snow. This allowed to test various configurations of drive (tackles, winch, tackles + winch, with or without sail).
Yesterday finally, big satisfaction to see Babouche making its first skids. And already, some modifications are envisaged on the skis which miss adhesion on the lively ice. To follow...

The video of the slide (to see videos, download QuickTime free of charge)

VIDÉOS OF THE FIRST TESTS
See the first videos of the tests

...

TESTS ON ICE
From February 20th to March 5th, Sebastien, Eric and Anne-lise will go to find Babouche in Montreal for tests of navigation on ice.
A training for the boat but too for the crew.
You will be regularly informed about the progress of the tests.

LES NUITS POLAIRES 2007
February 16th, 17th and 18th
to the oceanographic institute
195 street Saint Jacques - 75005 Paris

VOILES ET VOILIERS
All January in Kiosks

We are always
in search OF TECHNICAL AND\OR FINANCIAL PARTNERS
To take the departure next May,
to go to conquer the Northwest passage by sailboat
If you want and especially the means to help us or
if you know somebody who can make it

Contact us

 

 

CLIP OF THE EXPEDITION 2006
Set 5mn to see the film of the expedition 2006 in Canada

BOAT SHOW OF PARIS
We will be available in the boat show of Paris
On the stand CRT Languedoc - Roussillon
From 1st to 11 December 2006
Hall 1 Stand R58

INTERVIEW OF SEBASTIEN
On Radio Canada
on Tuesday, October 10th, 2006
To download Quick Time