Richard Hudson returned to the Shellbacks Club to describe his passage of the Northwest Passage (so taking us to the opposite end of the planet from his talk on sailing through Patagonia that he gave in the fall). About Richard Hudson Richard won the Ocean Cruising Club Rambler Medal in 2013. This medal is awarded for the most challenging voyage made by a member or members. Richard Hudson s/v Issuma: For a voyage through the Northwest passage shorthanded The award recognizes Richard's 2011-2012 voyage through the Northwest Passage from Cartwright, Labrador to Victoria, B.C. in the 50 foot steel staysail schooner Issuma. Richard had to abandon an earlier attempt in 2010 when he almost lost the mast due to rigging failure in the Labrador Sea and had to return to Cartwright and then New York for repairs. Although in 2011 he was late in the season, having been held up for three weeks in Cartwright waiting for engine parts, the Northwest Passage light ice conditions in 2011 allowed for a fast passage. He cleared into Canada at Cambridge Bay and made Point Barrow and entered the Bering Sea. His crew left Richard in Kodiak and Richard sailed solo across the Gulf of Alaska to Yakutat, Alaska and then to Sitka where he spent the winter. In the spring Richard sailed solo down to Victoria arriving May 1, 2012, topping off the challenge with a voyage successfully completed. The fact that he persevered in his quest and succeeded with a short-handed crew demonstrates his capabilities in the face of challenge. Richard was also nominated in 2011 for Canadian Rolex Sailor of the Year by Canadian Yachting Association [now Sail Canada].
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