Australian sails through Northwest Passage

Redaktionen | 29-08 - 19:13

A 66-year-old Australian man arrived in Nuuk on Wednesday after sailing through the Northwest Passage. He warned that people must take the consequences of the melting sea ice seriously

Alex Whitworth left Sydney on 12 April this year on a voyage to sail through the Northwest Passage, following a round-the-world trip in 2005.

He was joined on board the 10 meter long 'Berrimilla' yacht by crew members Corrie McQueen and Kimbra Lindus.

Having seen for himself that the passage is navigable, the experienced sailor said that people must not forget that climate change is the reason for this.

'We should be careful not to ignore this. The glaciers and sea ice are already melting,' he said.

Whitworth urged politicians to introduce strict regulations to protect what is left of the polar habitat.

'I'd be very sad to see the Arctic become just another cruise ship mecca. There's so much to protect, not least the fragile ecosystem.'

The Australian sailor understood the economic advantage of global warming for Greenland, but said if opportunities were to be sustainable then potential tourism would have to suffer.