The daring, 10,000-mile-long journey to circumnavigate the Arctic Ocean

NPR | By Rob Schmitz,

Henry Larson, Michael Levitt

Published August 8, 2026 at 3:30 PM MDT

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NPR's Rob Schmitz speaks with Captain Matt Rutherford, who is attempting to be the first person to circumnavigate the Arctic Ocean, solo and without any assistance.

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Rob Schmitz

Rob Schmitz is NPR's international correspondent based in Berlin.

See stories by Rob Schmitz

Henry Larson

Michael Levitt

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