Duluth Explorers Club: Ian Bentley, "Over the Top!"

Name: Duluth Explorers Club: Ian Bentley, "Over the Top!"
Start: 2026-02-19T19:30:00-06:00
End: 2026-02-19T20:30:00-06:00
Location: Grand Avenue Chalet, 8551 Grand Avenue Duluth, MN 55808

Schedule

Thu Feb 19 2026 at 07:30 pm to 08:30 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

Grand Avenue Chalet, 8551 Grand Avenue Duluth, MN 55808 | Duluth, MN

As if a solo sailing journey isn't challenge enough, last summer Duluthian Ian Bentley completed one for the books: the Northwest Passage. A little context: a northwest passage from Europe to Asia had been sought since the Americas were first known to Europeans. Many epic and doomed expeditions were mounted until Amundsen made the first successful passage in a three year odyssey in 1903-1906. Not repeated until 1943 the route was the province of icebreakers until a changing climate made it passable for small boats—but just a few. Prior to 2025 only eleven single-handed (just one person on board) sailboats had gone through the Northwest Passage. In 2025 it was attempted by four sailboats; three successfully. One of these was a Duluth-based boat skippered by Ian Bentley. Join us at our February gathering, where Ian will recount his 8,500 mile trip, a voyage which also encompassed the west coast of Greenland, the Bering Straits, Bering Sea, Kodiak Island, Gulf of Alaska and BC’s Inside Passage!
Free event! All are welcome. Social time at 7pm, presentation begins at 7:30.
About our presenter: Ian Bentley moved to Duluth in 1997 to join Cirrus Aircraft. Now retired, he has been sailing for 20 years, having bought his first boat on his 50th birthday. Ian's previous sailing adventures include crossing the Atlantic via the "Viking route" with his wife Robin Ketchen.