LA BELLE EPOQUE to challenge the Northwest Passage with an east to west attempt in 2013

Claudia and Jurgen aboard sailing vessel "La Belle Epoque" are planning an east to west Northwest Passage in 2013.

Jürgen Kirchberger
juergen(at)fortgeblasen.at 

Developing interests in exploring the world and living unrestrained during first travels in his youth, he decided to find his way outside the borders of ordinary society. His high self-confidence, his preference for a simple life and his way of practical thinking helps him to do so, his love for freedom and independence keeps him from standing still. His slightly anarchistic thinking and his easy humor are parts of his personality and helps him enjoying live. His relationship with Claudia is prior for him.

Claudia Kirchberger

claudia(at)fortgeblasen.at

After a carefree and beloved childhood on the families farm she decided to sign on to a boarding school for more education. But there she only found out how much she declines group pressure and scheduled living. In desire to experience more of the world she spend first earned money for traveling. Her ability to enjoy nature and her affection in wildlife kept her from mainstream tourism. Her pacifistic and socialism principals and her love to learn more about different cultures are part of her personality. Conservative thinking and the division into good and bad bores her as much as watchingTV. Her home lyes in her relationship with Jürgen.

The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque (French pronunciation: ​[bɛlepɔk]; French for "Beautiful Era") was a period in French and Belgian history that is conventionally dated as starting in 1871 and ending when World War I began in 1914.

About - S/V La Belle Epoque 

NAVAL DESIGNER: Kurt W. Schröter, Germany
Built: 1978
RIGG: Ketch with cutter stay
HULL: round bilge steel construction
LOA: 15,5m
LOD: 13,2m
BEAM: 3,9m
DRAFT: 2m
DISPLACEMENT: ca. 20 000 kg
MAINMAST (on deck): 17,5m
MISSENMAST (on deck): 12,9m
SAILAREA: 140qm
ENGINE: Perkins 4 Cyl.
DIESEL TANK: 500l
HEATING DIESEL TANK: 180l
WATER TANK: 400l (2 seperated tanks)
Built by Family Winke in Germany 1976-78


The Restoration Story:

http://www.fortgeblasen.at/segelpage/material/labelle/restauration.pdf
and
http://www.fortgeblasen.at/segelpage/material/Englisch/pdf_english/restoration.pdf

Video footage...

Überwinterung in Grönland

Video url: http://youtu.be/s7cNc9W9oic

NWP Planning and Route Details:

http://www.fortgeblasen.at/segelpage/material/nordwestpassage/geschichte_nwp.pdf
and
http://www.fortgeblasen.at/segelpage/material/nordwestpassage/eisprognose.pdf

Let the adventure begin...

Nordwest Passage (2013)

Video url: http://youtu.be/qTfTEnEMLkU



Here is their 'BLOWN AWAY' website: 
http://www.fortgeblasen.at 
or
http://www.fortgeblasen.at/segelpage/webside/english.htm


Video channels:
http://northwestpassage2013.blogspot.com/2013/06/la-belle-epoque-to-challenge-northwest.html
and
http://vimeo.com/channels/491407

Where is LA BELLE EPOQUE? 
http://www.winlink.org/dotnet/maps/PositionReportsDetail.aspx?callsign=OE5YCL 

We love our ham-rig: ICOM 7200, PACTOR III usb und ICOM AT140

We use it to get weather information and emails. We can keep in contact with cruising buddies and ham-friends at home. I guess we would consider the ham license as the most valuable license on board! My call: OE5YCL or e-mail: unterwegs(at)fortgeblasen.at

Best tip:

Wide mouth poly barrels (see if one or two 55 gallon pickle drum(s) can fit) into the chain locker. Never again will dirty seawater and chain mud from the anchor chains enter our bilge...

Comment: Sure is a nice large bulkhead hatch - kudos!