But 72-year-old Peter Smith is sailing the Northwest Passage anyway, in violation of COVID-19-related orders prohibiting most foreign yachts from entering Canadian waters. Since June 1, Transport Canada has prohibited pleasure craft from operating in Arctic waters "to better protect Arctic communities" from the spread of COVID-19. Reached by email, Smith said the story is one of bureaucracy "out of control and gone mad." Reached by email, Smith said completing a transit of the Northwest Passage is 'unfinished business' after he failed a similar attempt in 2018. (PeterSmith.net.nz)In a second email, Smith said the wording of the original Transport Canada ban was "ambiguous."

Source: CBC News August 26, 2020 07:52 UTC