19 Sep 2013
Leading French cruise line and 5-star Expedition specialist COMPAGNIE DU PONANT has just completed a first in the French maritime world with a crossing of the Northwest Passage from Greenland to Siberia on LE SOLÉAL, a luxury yacht flying the French flag, specifically designed to navigate in extreme regions.
A FIRST UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG
Having left Kangerlussuaq in Greenland on the 26th of August, LE SOLÉAL arrived in Anadyr in Russia on the 16th of September, having successfully traversed the North Pole to become the first French commercial ship to take this mythical shipping route linking the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean via Arctic islands in North Canada; a legendary passage that has inspired generations of navigators since the 15th century.
The ship followed the historic route taken by Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer who in 1906 was the first to open the passage at the end of three years of exploration.
More than a century later, Captain Etienne Garcia, who has spent years navigating in polar waters, led this voyage in the footsteps of Amundsen, without assistance, through narrow channels of land and moving ice in what is still a little known region.
For the 215 passengers on LE SOLÉAL – Soléal meaning ‘one who leads the way’ – the latest generation of ship specifically designed for polar cruises, it was an unforgettable and moving experience with many exceptional encounters along the way.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE CROSSING: extracts from Captain Garcia’s logbook
After a few days sailing from Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, on 2 September LE SOLÉAL enters the famous Northwest Passage for a crossing taking 8 days. Moments of intense emotion and concentration for the crew.
4 September 2013 – Success! We have past the first “bottleneck” of ice in the Prince Regent Inlet.
5 September 2013 – We came through the Bellot Strait around midday in good conditions and a 5/6 knot current at times. The scenery is magnificent, all covered in snow with visibility improving during the crossing. Cherry on the cake: we were able to stop at the exit to the Strait opposite a bear and her two cubs! This afternoon, we started our descent south pausing to drift in the bay with the ice pack at the end, having spotted 4 bears on the ice, quite a way off but the passengers were delighted.
6 September 2013 – We are in Gjoa Haven, 110 years after the arrival of the Gjoa which dropped anchor here for the first time in September 1903! For a mariner and his passengers, there is great significance attached to this port of call as this is where Amundsen wintered for 2 years. Landed by zodiac on the beach, historic path to the Amundsen cairn, dancing to the drums, Inuit throat singing and inauguration of their beautiful new cultural centre. An incredible port of call that proved an emotional experience for passengers and crew alike.
9 September 2013 – Today we made a slight detour south to Banks Island where we found the pack ice broken up. Cruised for several hours along the ice which delighted passengers. LE SOLÉAL then headed for Franklin Bay and the fascinating Smoking Hills, an extraordinary phenomenon where the hills appear to be on fire from a spontaneous combustion within the shale rocks, before crossing Cape Bathurst which marks the end of the Northwest Passage.
10 September 2013 – We’re now leaving the Canadian archipelago, the last challenge, with some ice scattered on route to Herschel.
The rest of the cruise took passengers along the Yukon coast in Alaska before reaching the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Strait with a surprise port of call in store on Petite Diomède Island, then on 16 September, Anadyr in Russia, where this exceptional voyage ends.
COMPAGNIE DU PONANT, SPECIALISTS IN THE POLES FOR 11 YEARS
With 11 years of experience in the Arctic and the world leader in Antarctic cruises, COMPAGNIE DU PONANT is recognized as the specialist in the Poles. Designed and engineered for polar cruises, LE BORÉAL and L’AUSTRAL offer fascinating and unusual experiences beyond the Arctic Circle.
Both have the “ice” classification, meeting clearly defined international criteria, and in terms of safety equipment are at the forefront of technology. Stable and quiet, both were awarded Comfort 1 certification by Bureau Veritas.
On board, under captains who are experts at navigating these extreme zones, bi-lingual professionals in the Arctic accompany passengers: whether naturalists, guides or lecturers, all are specialists in this destination who share their knowledge, experience and passion.
RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Respecting the environment is a priority for COMPAGNIE DU PONANT, a member of the Charte Bleue d’Armateurs de France. From the design of the ships, which earned the international CLEANSHIP label, to the outings ashore, every care has been taken to reduce the impact on our environment: from “green” equipment and eco-friendly hull coatings to raising awareness among passengers and crew, and respecting local people.
FIVE-STAR EXPEDITION
COMPAGNIE DU PONANT offers the promise of rare and privileged moments, a chance to experience the excitement of an adventure in five-star comfort. With 132 stylish staterooms and suites, LE BORÉAL and L’AUSTRAL provide a unique environment, a combination of elegance, supreme comfort and wellbeing. The ambiance is welcoming and intimate, with attentive service, French cuisine and Spas Sothys™: a certain idea of luxury, another way of cruising. Largely open to the outdoors both ships enable their passengers to really live and breathe the stunning views of this icy world. Being part of the daily life of the crew, having access to the bridge and regular Zodiac® outings in small groups, everything is designed to provide a polar experience that is as close to nature as it is possible to be.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE RENDEZ-VOUS in 2014!
The second Northwest Passage Crossing will leave from Greenland to sail along the Alaskan coast to Nome
To reserve or learn more, please call 1-888-400-1082 or visit http://en.ponant.com.
About Compagnie du Ponant
Since its founding by two French Merchant Navy officers in 1988, Compagnie du Ponant has taken to the sea with intimate ships that offer the essence of private luxury yachting with inspired French sensibility and custom technology to preserve fragile marine ecosystems. This year, the world's only French cruise line is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the July 2013 launch of its fourth state-of-the-art vessel, the 132-staterooom Le Soléal, and introducing new itineraries in the Arctic and Asia.
Able to sail in waters not accessible to larger ships, the four sleek Compagnie du Ponant yachts visit exotic ports not found on many itineraries, allowing 64 to 264 guests to discover engaging new experiences aboard and ashore during 3- to 21-night cruises that span the globe. Options abound, from five-star polar expeditions, cultural cruises and ocean voyages to music - (jazz, classical, opera and more), golf- and culinary-themed cruises. All cruises feature attentive service from a convivial crew fluent in English and French, luxuriously appointed staterooms and suites, gourmet cuisine and fine wine, and carefully curated excursions.
Compagnie du Ponant’s North American sales office is located at 2 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2470, Miami, Florida 33131. For reservations and more information, please call: 1-305-398-9849 or toll free: 1-888-400-1082; email: USreservations@ponant.com, or visit http://en.ponant.com.
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