Comeback - Report of expedition. It is not easy to explain our feeling concerning this expedition as it sounds not completed. However, it has been really an adventure, may be too short with only one month and a half but very intense and full of emotion. We have learned quite a lot on the human and technical aspects. Since four years until today we have been really supported by many persons for our project and finally they brought us much more than expected. Decision to come back to our departure point has been a very hard choice as we already had nearly 400 Nautical miles done (1/4th of the way) and the opposite way was not so evident. We were to face an opposite ice drift and the same difficulties as already done. However, we knew that it was the decision to be taken and the following days have shown us we were right. Twelve days later, the battery was definitely out of order. Now, our thoughts are for the next departure which we expect will be successful. Technically, we plan some changes. These 750 Nautical miles have been the best training to prepare our next departure. We definitively think that this hybrid boat is able to cross this incredible ocean. Both of us had a great time together and we have been fully able to sail Ti-babouche into the water and on the ice. Be sure that this welded and friendly team has decided to start again this expedition with a better knowledge of the icing conditions, the navigation to be decided and the material to be used. A month and a half itís already good but we would have preferred the satisfaction to join the North Pole and of course, the final arrival at Spitsbergen. Polar expeditions, since the beginning have been sometimes success, sometimes failures. In our case, we definitively think that we can do it and succeed. With a huge emotion, we think of all our friends who have helped or supported us. This sportive and scientific adventure is first of all a human adventure. For this kind of project, high partners are necessary and we wish to thank you to be one of these. We look forward to share with you this great adventure. The Pole way has been the opportunity of meeting with: 13 polar bears, one grizzly, one boreal whale, many caribous, birds, shrimps, belugas, jellyfishes and fishes. A long way of 750 Nautical miles (Complete way was 1750), a permanent day without night and the last day a meeting with the moon. We had very few shouting matches, many crazy laughs and upon arrival our aching feet. Once again, thank you very much to all of you, our partners, our shore based team, our friends and last but not least our families. Without you, we would never have been able to put only a single finger in this polar dream.
	August 7th Babouche's crew call me this morning to tell me that they have no computer left, no battery any more. No picture of the day thus. Fortunately, the GPS and the phone still charge (directly on the solar panel). Good news ! Forecast is finally sunny and the morale as well !!! Wind is very uncertain, currently face, so they have to tack between the ice. But despite this they progress really well. Congratulation to them !
	August 6th Forecast is cloudy and cold, everything is fine ! Our race against the chase against the bad drift continue. Therfor our nights are short and our day of navigation longer and longer. We might navigate for 36 hours today if we are not too cold. The fog reduce the charm of the icy landscape but it is still wonderful. We don't talk too much each other because we just meet between the cabin and outside. We will make up for when the sun will be back again. So far the forecast and the ice-map allow us to go East. Then when we will be offshore of Prudhoe Bay, we will take South. It will be certainly with a lot of emotion that we will see the land. 7H33 PM : 73°27 155°51’2° and wet. Bye and thanks for all your messages and support, it helps a lot.
	August 5th - We progress ! After an heavy night, during which we drifted 11 mil North, we prefered to enjoy our sleeping-bags to leave the heavy wind behind (lighter than expected). Around 11AM, we finally got good conditions to leave with a face wind, 2 reefs, little jib and mainsail high up !! Despite this, we do not progress fast because the ice, that protect us from the waves, reduces our speed. I did 1 mil in 2H30 hours, a record !!! We went back in the freezing-fog but we finally found a way to overcome the cold in the feet: Rod is in sleepers in his over-boots, he puts only his wet boots to walk on the ice. Me, I change my socks every 3 hours and dry and warm them in my fleece jacket. Today we plane to stop for a sleep between midnight and 6 AM before continuing our way East/South-East away from the waves for 3/4 days left. Then we will cross South untill Prudhoe Bay, we will avoid ice as much as we can.
	August 4th – Under the sunup sign !!! This morning, 3AM, we woke up with a nice weather. Finally ! The sun !!!! I call Pierre Lasnier to decide of the suitable forecast. Afetr discussion, we decide to kee East with a slight South-West wind that ends-up South-East and pretty strong. Around 2PM, we cross a ice-sheets area that forced us to “tirer des bords” , we almost not move forward.... We thus decide to stop for a while, to rest and dry our clothes and sleeping bags under the cold but appreciable sun. We are now waiting for the changing wind East/North-East to avoid ice. August 6th, the wind is suppose to slow down so we can move on to the coast. It is 7PM, Rodolphe sleeps, we are going to eat and sleep overnight because we are very tired and we need forces for the crossing. We drift to N-NW at 0.7 knots. Wind South/East 15 knots Temp 0 +3°C Pos 74°00N 157°50 W
	August 3rd – Freezing fog We are cold, but we move south since this morning, we are tacking between ice-sheets. We also passed a polar bear which was swimming south. Otherwise, still cold associated with a small rain. We shift every 2 hours, it is long and inside it is not so warm neither.
	August 2nd – Finally the water.... We might have a good news : It is 3PM and we found water. A huge water area. Unfortunately, we have front wind so we move too far East. We are still quite North (74°22N) and the moving ice-sheets are still pretty present.... Too much present. We zigzag !! But until now (6:30PM), we still managed to sail on water, no ice area anymore. What a pity, it warmed-up our feet. We put our last dry clothes, let say not too humid, and study the way for the last 300 mils (3 times the distanse between the continent and Corsica). We keep an eye on the forecast and decide to cross direction Prudhoe Bay. We are still cautious because it is still possible to find ice-sheets to cross. We have to fill up water tank as well before leaving. The forcaste for the day is still the same, unpredictable : we had sun 6 times 2 minutes (time to take The bath), snow 3 times and rain 2 times. The rest of teh time was grey (sea) elefant. 10 PM we stop. We pushed the boat for 6 hours under the snow and the rain. We are cold and we are exhausted even though the water seems to be free of ice, we have to recover because a new challenge is waiting for us : the 300 miles until Prudhoe Bay.
	august 1st We must have done 6 milles on the ice towards south, but we end up 2 milles north of our initial position ! The principal is to move forward on the ice sheet, but this is not so easy because we have a front wind and we have to pull the boat and its 350 kg on unstable ice pieces. We walk, meter after meter... It snows a little, and we met a beluga swimming right under the boat, between the ice sheets. The visibility is not perfect, and the battery is really not reliable. We don’t know how long we’ll be able to send more messages.
	july 31th After a very humid night inside, but snowy and windy outside, we get quickly out because the wind is favourable and we know that it won't last. The ice map indicates us that the free water is only at 30 milles, so we do the best to hurry up. In spite of that, we have to keep concentrated and not make any mistakes. We start the progression with thousands of small ice-sheets with water in between. It's long, it's slow and tiring. It's 1 pm, lots of free water is apperaring. We start to believe that it's the end of the ice (which makes Rod quite sad). An hour after, we are on a similar area as the one that we had the same morning. We have a snow fall, west wind (10 to 15 knots), it's 8.30 pm, we are completely wet. We stop for today. We set up the tent on the rear trampoline and try to dry our wet clothes. Tomorrow, they won't have really dried, and they will be cold, hum what a nice moment ! But this wonderful polar landscape is worth it. We enjoy every single moment. Cheers !
	july 30th Weird day : water, chaos, some good ice-sheet, dreams, laughs, dispirited cries, and happiness ! I am lost but one thing for sure, it is wonderful to have a team-mate as Rodolphe. Arctic is really wonderful and always changing: when you wake up you don't know what will look like the place you felt asleep 9h before. Things change so fast ! Animals are abundant in summer: seals, polar bears (12), shrimps, fishes, crabs, birds, butterflies, and, since 3 days, thousands of little moths. Otherwise, Rodolph has made a wonderful dive in the water and finished completely wet from head to toes. He had to change all clothes and warm-up quickly. Clothes attend to dry under the rain !!! Everything is fine onboard, battery is getting less and less charged but all equipments are full-charged and we are not worry.
	july 29th Since a few days, wa have problems charging the battery. Last night, none of our electronical equipments were working. After analysing the problem with a marine electricity expert (thanks to François Girard de Teem), the diagnostic is fatal, the battery is out of order... This problem means that within a few days, we won't be able to communicate, or to use our navigation and scientific equipments, or camera and video camera. On top of that, we have some minor technical problems (skis, rudder blade skates...) ; we could fix them, but they are among many signs that push us to take a hard decision : we have to turn back, as long as we can do so. Indeed, without any battery (and without communication means) it would have been very dangerous to continue (let's imagine a medical problem, without any medical assistance by phone, and with an uncertain navigation...). We took this decision today, we turn around because it's still possible to do so by our own means. More north in the Arctic, the winds and currents would have prevented us to come back. We are terribly disappointed by that decision, but we remain confident in the principle (sailing boat - ice yacht) because the 20 days of progression between ice and water proved us the smooth functioning of Ti-Babouche. It's only postponed, not cancelled ! The expedition will start again later on. We'll have an advantage : these days spent on different types of ice, in real conditions. We are convinced that it will work. We really want to thank all our partners, friends, all of those who follow us and support us. For us, the expedition is not over because we still need 1( days or so to reach the land. We'll keep you posted as much as we can.
	Impossible to wrap it up We nearly managed to stay dry the whole day to finally finish both of us in the water in the evening. Our stuff tend to dry in the humid fog. The last 24H have been pretty cold, the water surface froze on 3.4 mm and the stems which broke the ice make a nice noise. No time to appreciate it because sudenly a polar bear approachs. Quick, the fire crackers, rockets and camera ! He is within easy reach. The polar bear approachs slowly, sniffs us, and sits on an iceblock. He is at home. Seb moves the boat to the water thinking that he might not approach them too fast. I hoist hurriedly the gennaker to impress him but I all tangled up with. Oups !!! Finally, we continue our way without paying attention to him and it worked, he grows tired to follow us. Nice pictures for Lise's birthday. Hard progression, small repairing, missing wind and surface ice slow down our progression. Arctic kisses...
	July 26th - Wind ahead Short day : 7 nautical miles with wind ahead. It was sunny 20 times, rain 10 times and fog 19 times, but tonight, it's nice and our effects can finally dry.We will be able to get dressed and lie in a dry sleeping bag, happiness ! The drift of the ice took over in the right direction. Only we hope of good run.Technically, a small problem with battery charging but that's it.Technically, a small battery charging problem but we solved the problem. Wind :  NW 4/6 knots Pos : 74°11N 161°59W
	July 25th 10 miles covered today, some sun, some wind, we could dry our effects : everything is fine on board. But the fog quickly returned and feet are always wet and cold, a good paella will warm it, thank you SAI ! South wind 3/8 nds Temp. -2 +5°C Pos. 74°05 N  161°55 W
	July 24th - Listless as the time Soft time, weariness late in the day, nonchalance, silence, not enthusiastic. Some seals watch us to push, pull, slalom, and walk on water. yes, we improve to walk on water. But we progress in spite of this "Pot au blanc" and it will not go on forever, our weather  staff told us that wind get up Wednesday. Thank you to our dear frogs (Anne-lise and Roman). The answer to yesterday's question is "too often, but we improve. Bye
	July 23th - North Wind and repair Last night we heard a whale blow near to the boat but we don’t see it : too foggy.After many hours beating with 3 knots of wind, between water and ice (not very effective but we are still going North), we decided to stop to stick again a piece of midsection of skis wich ripped off 3 days ago on a compression crests. Repair, maintenance, cleaning : we are ready to leave tomorrow with South-East wind, normally! Statistics : 350 nautical miles from the river and 160 nautical miles from Barrow. North  Wind 0/3 knots. Position 73°31N 161°28W.
	July 22th - lakes melting Seb, where are you? There is so much fog that I do not see you ! Rod, I'm here in my sleeping bag next to you ! Come on, let's go, we must progress despite that no wind. brp> In brief, we are happy to be here. The terrain is favorable, it's a good thing. After the chaos, it feels good. Imagine some big sheets of ice as far as the eye can see, all linked, with many lakes melting on surface. Ti-sbabouche makes its way alternating ice and water. We launched a game, a riddle : How many times in one day, you think we go into the water ? Think it, bye.
	uly 21th - Water, ice, polar bear This morning before we left, a bear came around the boat, we watched each other a long time, it seemed very curious but too impressed by the boat. Then he passed on his way to the South and we to the North ! The ice finally looks like the first-year ice (approximately 1.20m thick and white) but it is sprinkle with lakes melting (50/100). We're still not very fast because no wind but ice conditions are improving so we should speed up in the coming days.
	July 20th - White Day because laundry day But mainly because behind two compression crests, we finally found white and less chaotic ice. Wind is very light but doing well. There are many lakes melting but still too small to sail more than 20 meters. We passed the 73 N, we finally going North!! Our West position is due to drift but it will serve us for later because it should make us enjoy more before the winds and currents. Temp. -1/7°C
	July 19th - where is the way ? Long day in the fog and chaos. BIG CHAOS! Slalom through the canyons of ice, no wind. We are in a hurry to change area ! Besides, the water was beautiful, we were amazed by its purity and transparency. We saw too some animals (seals, sea gulls, fish and shrimp). By late afternoon (23:30) we executed the measurements and scientific sampling.
	july 18th : water and "mostly" ice Difficult progression today again. They made a total of 16 milles whose 5 going south to avoid compression crests (7m high !). All this in the fog ! But the mental is good, and they continue improving their techniques of sailing in the chaos !
	july 17th Ti-Babouche traveled 22 miles with 7 due to their drift during their sleep time. More and more ice, but chaotic ice and still water. This is a surface that does not slide easily. So they towing, feet in water. This day has been physically proving. But they have a good frame of mind with sun ! They are eager to reach the "pack", large plates and / or large lakes melting.
	july 16th 24 milles today, between water and ice. Difficult progression for 2 reasons : the bad ice condition ; and Seb & Rodolphe have to get their bearings. They are aware that the ice conditions will get better and better when they will be further north, and that an expedition start is always more tiring. It should be only better in the coming weeks then !! The beginning of the day was marked by bear prints around the boat… He/they might have been frightened by the boat, nothing more occured !
	July 14th - A second start.... Right North ! Satellite phone retreived, Sebastien and Rodolphe finally go back to the sea. They left Barrow yesterday direction North Pole ! A small detour that will cost them a lot (in time) on the whole trip schedule. But satellite phone is essential, this stop was, thus, incontrovertible. They took advantage of it with some checkouts on the boat and get ready for the second start, this time, right North ! 2 novelties on the website: - Cartography to follow Ti-Babouches' progress - In few days, a Website in English (Thanks to Valentine Ribadeau Dumas).
	The Ocean..finally. Sebastien and Rodolphe just reached the Arctic Ocean. For the past two days, they were struggling on the river that led them there. We decided not to speak of this step on the little river on the website in order to not feed any speculation while they were in the risky area, close to the restricted oil zone. Now that they are on the ocean, here is the story of this difficult passage with water, rocks and tundra! As they did not have direct access to the ocean (let’s not talk about the restriction in the area…), Sebastien and Rodolphe together with Vincent (there for filming and in the end, to help them pull the boat) decided to go on the Sagavanirktok River, the "Sag River" as they call it, 30 miles away from its mouth. But at this place, the river ended up being a real maze and our three friends got lost a little… Thanks to Mike and Bob (managers of the company “North 70” and our associates since our arrival in Prudhoe Bay) that have flown over by plane, we were able to inform them of their mistake in the trajectory. It took 10 hours for them to get the boat across a 1km area of tundra and rocks in order to reach the right spot of the river that ultimately led to the ocean. Thierry was able to meet them with the Mike and Bob’s plane to film but also to bring Vincent back on the mainland.
	Here it comes “La voie du pôle” is among the starters Finally, Sebastien and Rodolph took off this morning at 10 on board of Ti-Babouche. It is very moved but with a big smile that they delivered their last “good bye”. We are, you can imagine, as well very moved but very happy to see them leaving to the ice floe which thrilled them so much ! Thierry qnd Vincent will leave in few days, while Jean-Maurice, Anouk and I we take the road back to Anchorage with our “loyal” Campe
	Our convoy has nearly completed the journey to the Alaskan north coast. We are about to start the last stage along the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to near Prudhoe Bay. Even though the way has been long, the past two weeks have been an enriching experience. We have had our share of problems. First off, our initial plan was to launch from Prudhoe Bay, but that idea had to be scrapped. Prudhoe Bay is the only coastal village accessible by road, on the so-called Dalton Highway. But the oil company BP is drilling here, and has created a perimeter around its operations. It is not allowing access inside to anyone, and this includes access to the coast. We have to find another way to get to the sea. There are other access points next to De!adhorse, the last village before the exploration zone, 15 kilometres south of the Prudhoe Bay. But they are accessible only by air. The only solution would be to airlift Ti-Babouche to the coast ! And to do that, we would have to persuade a helicopter company to pick up and haul our contraption. In case this option will not succeed, we will have to return to Canada in Northwest Territories, exactly to the village "Inuvit" to start ! In any case the expedition will start at the beginning of July -- from Alaska or Canada. Along the way, many thanks to Thierry Revechon who stayed with us from the beginning, looking for ways to keep us on track. His generosity and good sense have been more than helpful. Thanks also to Thierry Robert and Séverine Cappa who have worked tirelessly to find a happy ending for our story. They are, respectively, the director and production manager for the film that is being made out of the expedition. We are lucky to have such a talented director and let’s not forget the equally talented crew who include cameraman Vincent Berthet and producer Nicolas Zunino.