Robin & Defiance's Blogs

The Defiance Expedition

Defiance Expedition's Objectives

Cruising Canada’s remote north east and Arctic coastlines is a wonderful venture, one that I believe begs for a meandering cruise by fairly hardy and self sufficient adult folk. With a bit of support there is a chance of cruising virgin land and seeing an Arctic that is disappearing faster than our own lives. Such a voyage is beyond the scope of all but the most signifigant recreational vessels and the cost of cruising high.

The cost of outfitting and preparing such a vessel as Defiance is considerable. Robin has made a living as a shipwright and fiberglass technician for the past 4 years and as such has devoted over a thousand hours of time and in excess of $70,000 in the rebuild and modfication of Defiance producing a boat that is both unique and hard to quantify in the current world of tupperware floating condos. Defiance is a baby ship now proven and becoming itchy to set sail.

Defiance is the vessel for the job. But only in as much as you have to know when to cut and run, or not to sail. Constructed with .25" steel on her bow plates, to full commercial scantling there are berths for 6. We prefer to work extended passages with no more than 3 or 4 aboard. Defiance carries 2,500 liters of fuel and 1200 liters of water creating a service range of 2,200 nautical miles if the furnace is not running 24-7.

Image right is winter trim 2007 as the ice gives us a bit of a kick. Check the Blogs for more ice pictures.

Conceptually, the objective of this venture is to broaden the fiscal support of the vessel and cruise while providing accomodation for two weeks prime season and a week off season. The yearly operating costs cover 365 on board support and between cruising grounds delivery costs. The vessel remains under command of our authorized Captain although a member may earn the right to command the vessel. Where one cruises withing the current "operations area" is the choice of the entire crew with the only restriction that the vessel must end up at a central location where practical crew change and reprovisioning can occour. All operating expenses such as fuel & oil costs are the members responsibility.

The proposed cabin area is seen below. There is shared use of the galley and bath during the day but the entire aft cabin is available once one settles in for the night.

Robin's Cruising Background

Robin is a long term live-aboard cruiser who has spent many a winter aboard starting in the 70's in Europe, then the 80's on the east coast of the USA, the Caribbean, and now back in Canada. After ten years of cruising the warm climates my objective is a to explore Canada's opening northern regions weaving a tale of the change that are coming to this beautiful and remote part of Canada. The opportunity to see and record the wildlife of the coast and ice a disappearing opportunity. For the past three years I have been working on refitting my vessel for such a voyage, now with the third winter almost finished I believe I am ready to set a hard time frame to the adventure.

By using the top navigation bar you may investigate my Internet and marine endeavors of the past 10 years. for more traditional film and communications background view my "corporate" experience pages.

Seen right is Centaur at 65' and 60 Tons is the vessel Robin returned on from the last great 10 year cruise, pretty much making Defiance a fairly easy project to manage. Click image or link to open a new browser on the Centaur web pages. Two reasonable children can be accomodated in the salon.

Centaur web site here

Above all my purpose is to visit these shores and meet the people and wildlife, All reports and history showed Newfound landers and Innu people are happy for a change and welcome company rather than the attitude of so many Caribbean Islands. Our Canadian Arctic is changing very fast now as the polar ice recedes and the old north will never be the same again.

Suitability:

Gender & preferances optional. We certinally run a tight ship, and adhere to saftey guidelines.I am deffinatly an old hippy who never changed all that much much. The expedition collectivly be doing what is prudent and safe but ide interfearance will be tolerated. This a a working voyage. As such the voyage will have maintenance issues and more than one adventure I expect and is suitable for semi compatible outdoors people and free spirits willing to learn as we cruise. The object is to get the monthly costs down to where a retired person can afford to experience such a cruise.

The general theme is that the crew of "Defiance" Summer I Depart Lake Ontario and continues out the St Lawrence Seaway making our way through the gulf islands to Newfoundland. Winter I Defiance will winter there with myself and whomever learning what we can from local captain about the ice and catching up on service for year two. Summer II Explores the Newfoundland coast, Gross More, then the Labrador coast north to Baffin Bay and Greenland (to be discussed). A large amount depends on the summer and conditions but I anticipate the warming will continue and exploring and Iqaluit and the Arctic ice pack. This is the story of a 42' trawler following the ice pack north through the fiord s of Labrador and the Arctic while conducting interviews with locals, contrasting what was, and what is to be as Arctic warming opens the area to smaller vessel and crews. The nature part of the story line is provided by the animals who inhabit this icy threshold and what is happening to them.

Many questions remain about the future of this land and any documentary record of the time, place, people and wildlife will be of lasting value to the historic and educational community. The vessel will be fitted for remote reporting and will produce a web site that chronicles the voyage while underway.

Other Capabilities:

Once one leaves Newfoundland for areas north there will be a sattellite phone on board for ice reports and communication @.
PC Based video editing
DVD/CD entertainment
SCUBA gear for licensed PADI divers
12' AL boat with 10 HP outboard

I love the north and spent time there when I was growing up out west. This is the cusp of change. There are entire towns and settlements that have simply closed and the people walked away with the decline of the fisheries.

Starting late 2007 and 2008 we begin from Waupoos on Lake Ontario and proceed out the StLawrence Seaway, visiting the French islands and villages along the coasts. I would anticipate wintering either in Nova Scotia or perhaps Newfoundland as everything depends on the ice's timetable. Year two 2009, is when things become really interesting and we begin to further explore Newfoundland and start up the Labrador coast.

Cruising Canada
cruisingca@hotmail.com
Phone (613)813 1359