In April we reported that the mighty Berrimilla, CYCA member Alex Whitworth’s sturdy Brolga 33, had set off again on another adventure following her amazing circumnavigation in 2005/6 when she completed two Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht races and the Fastnet within a 12 month period.

The plan this time was to transit the North West Passage, a feat rarely accomplished by small boats and almost none in one season and without icebreaker assistance.

Berrimilla successfully completed the transit at the end of August, and in so doing entered the history books:

• The 77th boat to complete the passage since Amundsen in 1903/5
• The 114th transit ever to be completed – some boats have crossed several times but these have been icebreakers or ice strengthened ships, not 33’ sailing boats!
• The third small boat ever to complete the transit
• The second Australian boat ever to do so, and the first to complete the crossing in one season and without icebreaker assistance.

The full story of the heroic odyssey, the historical milestones achieved, the cold, the icebergs, the odd polar bear and the encounters with interesting people in unlikely normally icebound parts can be read on the berriblog following the links on www.berrimilla.com

Berrimilla is now in Greenland on her way to Falmouth, and when she returns to Australia will probably be the first boat to have completed a circumnavigation via the North West Passage.

Our congratulations go to Alex and his crew of Corrie and Kimbra on this remarkable achievement, and we wish them fair winds for the upcoming North Atlantic crossing and their eventual return to Sydney. – Roger Wragby