Mike Horn’s eyes sparkle with the fuel of rich, rewarding life experience. South-African born Horn was the first person to complete a winter expedition to the North Pole and a 40,000 kilometer journey around the equator on foot, bicycles, sail boat and kayak. Horn knows something about experiencing the elements firsthand. And when you’re along in remote places, a guy has a lot of time to think, dream, and plot out what he wants to do with his future. Rather than simply hanging up his trekking boots, Horn redirects his wealth of experiences into select group of kids from around the world who will soon depart on Horn’s dream cruiser.
The young people will gather at a training camp in Switzerland this fall before embarking on a four year journey around the world. Their mode of travel is aboard the sailing Pangaea, an ecologically inspiring ship constructed in the favelas of Brazil.
“I want them to see the beauty of the planet,” Horn says. “I’ve seen the beauty intact, a planet of hope. Let’s take the interest further and move it forward.” Pangaea is a 35-meter sailing ship with Mercedes-Benz BlueTec diesel engines, solar panels and recyclable aluminum hull that is expendable in case of collision with an iceberg. The drinking water is desalinated, the food is recycled and the sun provides the energy. At capacity, 30 passengers can sleep onboard, including kids, scientist, a doctor, crew and captain. While accommodations aren’t extravagant, Pangaea is cozy and very much in the 21st century with Internet access, HD videos, and a hi-tech conference center for on-board transmissions.
Horn will lead the expedition from remote locations, setting up a trail for the young explorers to follow. The Pangaea, which was docked in New York City for a week after a transatlantic voyage is
en route to Panama. Soon the first wave of 6 to 12 of an expected 144 young explorers will sail for the journey of a lifetime.
{ 0 comments }
