Meet the man circumnavigating the Arctic Ocean, alone
Sailor Matt Rutherford is attempting a solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Ocean to raise awareness and funding for his climate science nonprofit. He faces extreme physical dangers, including ice collisions and the risk of being frozen in as winter approaches.
Why it matters
The expedition underscores the logistical challenges of Arctic exploration and the funding gaps currently facing climate research.
When sailing alone, even sleep is dangerous.
Matt Rutherford knows this all too well. As he travels the Arctic, far from his home port of Annapolis, Maryland, the moments Rutherford does get to rest are precious.
"It just becomes extremely difficult to get any sleep because if you hit the ice, you essentially die," he said.
Rutherford is attempting a maritime first: to circumnavigate the Arctic Ocean completely alone, some 10,000 nautical miles in total. The 45-year-old veteran sailor's journey takes him across the North Atlantic, along the Russian Arctic coast and eventually through the Northwest Passage in Canada.
National Pushing The Limits: Solo-Sailing The Americas In an interview with NPR's Rob Schmitz, he said the level of risk will rise as he travels into seas with denser patches of ice, and with worsening conditions.
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