I’ve long wanted to navigate the Northwest Passage and when the opportunity to buy the Fort Hearne in Kugluktuk came up we did. It was primarily going to be a part of our tourism based business but there was the added benefits (for me anyway) of having strong historical connections with the RCMP in the Arctic, and would need to be brought through the Northwest Passage.
When we made our opportunity in 2004 to re-caulk her, and then sail her from Kugluktuk to Arctic Bay nature had her surly way with us, and the ice never cleared from a key part of the passage. The lumber for the House was arriving and we needed to get back to start construction. Subsequent seasons there was neither the time nor (at in at least one of them) a clear enough passage.
I’ve decided that I need to reduce some of our short term debt and that having a wonderful vessel sitting on the beach on the other side of the Arctic is a luxury I can no longer afford. Besides it isn’t fair to her to have her sitting on the beach, drying out, and not plying the waters. So we’re going to try and sell the Fort Hearne.
So if you know anyone in the market for a 44 foot, 19 ton (gross – 12 ton registered) boat powered by a 200 HP Turbo Volvo diesel let me know. It comes very well equipped, and a part from a coat of paint and the usual maintenance is in very good (albeit dry) shape. Lord I wanted to make that trip.
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8 responses
Clare
It was interesting to get a comment from someone I don’t know. Thanks for putting your thoughts down. As a 15 year member who has spent all his career in BC, when I heard they opened up the opportunity to come north for relief work I jumped at the chance. The smallest detachment I’ve worked in was 40 members including a provincial traffic unit so I thought it would be quite interesting to go for a month to an isolated northern post. It has thus far been a very enjoyable experience. I hope you manage to make your Northwest Passage Journey as it sounds like something you really want to do. Good Luck.
If you get a chance feel free to add more comments or drop me an e-mail through the RCMP ross mail. I left me address.
P.S. How did you find my site if you don’t mind my asking as I said your the first person I don’t know to post to it
Clare, you can’t give up that dream. You need to find a solution. Are there other people you think you could share that dream, and embark on your venture ? In your area or somewhere else, and the ship could go from that area to yours, a sort of time sharing thing. It is just too good a thing to let go. I’m sure you didn’t come to this decision lightly. And your priorities are right (family well being before personnel endeavours), but it is heart breaking to have to let her go. Maybe come up with a project. A project that could involve the teenagers in your community. I hear that there is a very high rate of suicide among teenagers in the native communities. Instead of selling the ship, can it become part of a different dream/project, and in that way, you wouldn’t loose completely sight of her. And what a neat retirement it would be for that ship. Just a thought. Maybe not a realistic one, but a heartfelt one. Good luck.
(PS I have heard twice of a project in some native communities in Quebec where they are using a motor home or travel trailer as a movie production studio, and it goes from community to community, and the movies produced by the young natives are incredible. Lots of pride, great cultural ambassadors, of both their culture and the social aspects of their contemporary lives are showcased, educating us, non-natives, and their participation to the project has had many more impacts on their individual lives. That’s where I got the idea for your ship to become something in the communities up north were you guys are.)
Suzanne has some good ideas. Maybe if the Fort Hearne doesn’t sell quickly, you may be able to come up with some kind of creative arrangement. Perhaps some kind of partnership or something. It is hard to give up a nice dream though, but sometimes we have to do so to move on with our lives.
Oh no Clare! That is so sad! I had been really looking forward to meeting you when you came down to sail it away! I hope that you can somehow work out a way to keep it and still have your dream of sailing it.
If the sailors I know are anything to go by, boats come and go. Selling this one doesn’t mean you’ll never make that trip.
I do know someone….I’ll drop you a line.
Giving up on a dream can be heartbreaking, but I suspect that this was only one of many wild adventures you still plan to embark upon. With hope, this move will open the door to others.
Thanks everyone, Great suggestions. Unfortunately sometimes the dreamer has to give way to the realist. If I had time, flexibility, and no pressing need to pay some bills that are falling behind… well I could still hold on to this one. Perhaps another time, another opportunity.
Clare, I am so…oo sorry to hear that! When in Kugluktuk the boat has always been abit of a marker when I go cross country skiing and was amazed to find it was you who had bought it from Larry. Somehow i think however there are still many other schemes up your sleeves!