Sailor thumbs lift in icy waters (From Oxford Mail)

Sailor thumbs lift in icy waters

5:07pm Thursday 13th September 2007 in News By Ellie Simmonds

Yachtsman Adrian Flanagan is to hitch a lift on a merchant ship because of impassable ice in the Arctic section of his round-the-world voyage.

Mr Flanagan's 40ft yacht Barrabas is to be lifted on to an ice-hardened timber carrier to help him get through the dangerous Northern Sea Route off the Russian coast.

His on-shore team said winter had come early to the area and conditions were worse than expected.

Although the decision means father-of-two Mr Flanagan, from Ludgershall, near Bicester, will not make the journey unaided, he makes it into the record books as the first solo sailor to attempt the route.

His ex-wife and expedition manager Louise Flanagan said: "No single-handed sailor has ever been allowed to navigate along the northern Russian coast and no expedition or commercial vessel has ever made a non-stop unaided passage of the Northern Sea Route. Adrian recognised that the chances of being able to make a non-stop unaided passage alone were extremely narrow.

"Conditions this year have meant that the only window of opportunity to take Barrabas through Proliv Vil'kitskogo was the very dangerous inshore passage.

"Western Arctic Marine Operations HQ were concerned that this option would mean Barrabas would be beyond icebreaker assistance."

Mr Flanagan, 46, had been due to join a convoy of three small merchant ships with an icebreaker escort but the sea began icing over so quickly that this was abandoned.

Mrs Flanagan added: "Once aboard the merchant ship, safe passage is not fully assured but this is the best option.

"The merchant ship is of a specification not much different from that for an icebreaker and will be assisted by nuclear-powered icebreakers."

The ship is due to pick up Barrabas as deck cargo on September 23. Mrs Flanagan added the yacht would be put back in the water when conditions allowed.

Mr Flanagan is making the journey in aid of Oxford Children's Hospital and Save the Children.