November 19th 2024.
Leven Brown is a remarkable man with an impressive list of accomplishments. He holds a Guinness World Record for ocean rowing and in 2005 he made history by becoming the first person to row solo and unsupported from Spain to the West Indies. This was just the beginning of his incredible journey as he has since rowed thousands of nautical miles, including the challenging Trade Winds route multiple times, traversed the North Atlantic from New York to the Scilly Isles, and crossed the Indian Ocean from Western Australia to the Seychelles. Despite these achievements, his latest endeavor posed the greatest danger yet for this Scottish adventurer from the Borders.
Leven and his crew embarked on their most recent challenge earlier this year, attempting to row through the treacherous North West Passage. They set off from Eyemouth in their boat named Hermione, in honor of Leven's late mother, and traveled to Pond Inlet in Canada to begin their journey. Due to the lack of commercial transportation options, they had to use a hybrid engine on their rowing boat to travel the 4,500 miles to the starting point.
The North West Passage has a long history of mystery and tragedy, claiming the lives of many brave explorers who have attempted to conquer it. The route, which connects Europe to Asia, has captured the imagination of renowned explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Roald Amundsen, and the doomed Sir John Franklin. For Leven and his crew, their expedition was met with unexpected challenges when an unforecasted storm hit them in September near Cape Hope, bringing strong winds that destroyed their boat's anchor system.
Leven recalls the intense weather conditions in the Arctic, where calm waters can suddenly turn into vicious gusts of wind in a matter of minutes. They attempted to seek shelter on a nearby island, but the uncharted coastline proved to be a dangerous obstacle. As the weather worsened, they faced the harsh reality that there was nowhere to take cover. The crew's emergency anchor was broken by a large wave, leaving them at the mercy of the elements.
Despite their best efforts to avoid rocks and navigate the rough waters, they eventually ended up colliding with the shore. The boat sustained severe damage, with a three and a half foot hole in the bottom and two waterproof bulkheads destroyed. In a dire situation like this, the expedition would typically come to an end, but being on the North West Passage meant that rescue could take days. Leven and his crew had to come up with a plan to patch up the hole using whatever materials they had on hand.
After hours of intense work and creative problem-solving, they managed to create a rudimentary repair using drybags, rubber tape, and screws. However, the boat was still leaking, and they had to constantly bail out water. Their backup electric engine failed, leaving them with no choice but to continue rowing. Over the next ten days, they endured a grueling routine of rowing and bailing to keep the boat afloat.
Despite the challenges and obstacles, the determined crew continued on and finally reached their destination at Paulatuk. They may not have completed the entire North West Passage, but they became the first rowing boat to go from East to West, a remarkable feat of survival. Looking back on the journey, Leven describes it as the most challenging and dangerous expedition of his life, yet he also recognizes the rugged beauty of the Arctic and understands why explorers are drawn to it. He is proud of the teamwork and resilience displayed by his crew and is grateful to have been able to bring the boat home.
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