The trimaran - moored for a few hours in the peaceful village of Farsund.
Two Norwegian adventurers have begun their circumnavigation of the earth via the Arctic Ocean and will pass through the North West and North East Passages in a Corsair Marine 31UC trimaran. Borge Ousland and Thorleif Thorleifsson began their voyage on June 23 from Oslo and for the next three weeks they will sail along the Norwegian coastline. Their circumnavigation will take them around the Arctic Ocean and, in the process, through the North West and North East Passages. They will see first hand, what is happening with global warming.
“The issue of global warming,” writes Borge and Thorleif, “and the fact that our voyage passes through some of the least charted waters on Earth, is sure to generate added interest. There is an increasing curiosity about the Arctic and growing efforts to learn more. What will be the impact of climate change? What are the consequences of the surge in oil and gas exploration, and of increased shipping? The rapid diminishment of the Arctic sea ice is a front-page topic, and few people have failed to register that drastic changes are taking place. When we sail the Arctic Ocean, we’ll witness everything first hand. Naturally this will have a far stronger impact than satellite imagery or the view from an elevated ship’s deck.”
As the world attempts to come to terms with the impact of the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, that question, “What are the consequences of the surge in oil and gas exploration?” becomes even more pertinent on this expedition.
“The goal is to create a global platform for empowering people to better understand climate change, and take realistic steps towards making a positive contribution/change in their own lives. To realize this, we will use entertainment as a draw to education and involvement — by creating a multimedia experience that broadcasts a live polar expedition as it happens. In essence, reality television meets climate change.”
How to follow Borge and Thorleiff:
Borge’s website/blog
Borge’s tweets on Twitter
Corsair Marine’s website
From: Phil Johns /Corsair Marine International.
