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 5:30 PM EDT

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.

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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