Pond Inlet

16th Aug
Wind on the nose again...............so motoring..............that's the whole of Baffin Island we have motored now...............and some of Labrador.
Winds increase overnight and we decide to take shelter in the Nova Zembla isles............no real anchorages here..............we will look for shelter while it blows out.
Arrive at Round island near Nova Zembla Island about 10:00, not brilliant but it'll do. Steve and Ding ring Fred for a weather update, it appears it's easing tomorrow.....................good.
We watch the video the boys gave Steve on the Impossible wall..............Gordon
Leave at about 18:00, wind dropped dramatically, waves also. Set off for Pond Inlet again.

17th Aug
Pond Inlet.................Arctic Tern in the anchorage, the skipper is a friend of Skip Novaks.........it really is a small world, this remote sailing mob.
No major problems over night until we get to McCulloch Point............shallows and waves pick up as we pass round into Pond Inlet..soon becomes benign though. Arrive Pond Inlet about 09:00. Get stuff sorted, shower etc......then into the metropolise.
Arctic Tern is in the anchorage.
Hotel North very nice, but, wifi rubbish. Can't get on line at all. The Ice Pilot for a cruise liner is in the hotel and he gives us a copy of his latest reports. He recommends we go to Fort Ross and wait there. He thinks Bellot Strait is the way forward. That is going to be his recommendation to the Captain of "Silver Explorer" anyway.
We have lunch, Musk Ox stew.........blooming good too.
Back to the boat, get evrything ready and off we go to Arctic Bay, via Lancaster Sound......we have time and can fuel up and take on water at a small wharf.
Just amazing, magical crossing Pond Inlet to Navy Board Inlet...... flat calm and the sun is out.............warm.........beautiful !!!!!

Entrance to Pond Inlet, Bylot Island on the right (Starboard)

Inuit summer camp for hunting seals and fishing

First views of Pond Inlet

Fancy library..

RCMP offices

Arctic Tern....another Arctic / Antartic explorer

and then a cruise ship arrived.........."Silver Explorer"..............we met their Ice Pilot....a guy called Mark, a very experienced northern latitudes pilot.........he gave us some good advice on routes etc etc