Quite a bold undertaking for the 16th century, and in rickety wooden ships yet.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TVY8LoM47xI

When you read about the hardships these men went through, it makes me a lot less critical of my day-job. ^.=.-
Those were some tough men.

I remember reading about Davis years ago. The search for Northwest Passage Would claim many lives such as Sir John Franklin Expedition's to name just one of the top of my head. Those poor men of the H.M.S. Erebus and H.M.S. Terror. In their case the decadence of the time would contribute to their fates. Even though John Franklin is often credited with finding the Northwest passage they never made it. I was years later with a swedish fishing ship Captained by a man who admired Franklin would make it.

If I recall correctly. (doing this off the top of my head.)