Robert Twigger

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The Wind of Change Expedition 2012-2016

The World’s first Oceans and Rivers Circumnavigation.

Many people have sailed around the world. But no one has ever made a continuous circumnavigation via the ‘land route’, travelling the two greatest rivers on the planet – the Amazon and the Nile, and the two greatest oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic.

In the same boat. Made of air, mainly.

Using a new kind of catamaran with inflatable hulls we aim to be the first to circumnavigate the globe by crossing the Atlantic, ascending the Amazon to its source, crossing the Andes, crossing the Pacific and Indian oceans, arriving at the Blue Nile, then descending the Blue and white Nile to the sea

A primary object of the expedition is to raise awareness about renewable and sustainable energy: principally wind power. By using only wind, human and animal power- the boat will have no engine, we aim to show the immense possibilities of this incredible free resource: the wind. When linking up with our boat, new crew members will travel by sailboat, avoiding the need for air travel. We will be making contact with schools worldwide using the internet to provide resources for children interested in our project. There will also be a program of visiting schools, already started by Robert Twigger who has spoken many times in schools and at businesses around the world.

A charitable aim of the expedition is to raise money for Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Mines Advisory Group who clear unexploded mines worldwide. We will set up an easy method of sponsorship to enable this to happen.

Our boat- though engineless – is, due to its construction, faster than most motorsailers over a big ocean crossing. We can average 200 nm a day on a trade wind route. It is constructed from new but recyclable materials.

The ethos of the expedition is sustainability, low cost, appropriate technology, simplicity. Our boat costs only $18,000. Our food costs, supplemented by fishing, are only $200 per person per month. With a four man crew this means a four month voyage food will cost $3200, a five month voyage $4000. We have very low fuel costs- used for cooking and lighting only.

Year 1: Using an ultralight 28 foot Sibcat Catamaran with inflatable hulls we will sail from Cairo to Casablanca. Teething troubles and other problems will be sorted in this phase.

Year 2: We will sail from Casablanca across the Atlantic to the mouth of the Amazon. Proceeding upriver the catamaran will be progressively lightened to allow its transportation across the Andes using only human and animal power.

Year 3: We will then set off across the Pacific towards Sumatra.

Year 4: From Sumatra we will proceed via the Andamans and Sri Lanka towards east Africa- ending in Djibouti.

Year 5: In Djibouti we will shorten the Catamaran to 22 feet and cross using human and animal transport to Dire Dawa in Ethiopia and from there head towards the Blue Nile during the rainy season, to join the river at the Shafartak bridge. There we will be below the difficult rapids but it will still not be easy- however we will then descend the river and join the White Nile at Khartoum. This route has previously been canoed in nine days. We will then continue the descent of the Nile, traverse Lake Nasser to arrive back in Cairo.

How you can help: We are looking for 1000 donations of $100USD. Each donor will have their name written on the hull of the boat. As well as receiving a limited edition, signed, beautifully bound version of the expedition book (which will also be published with a normal publisher) the donors will literally get a part of the expedition - we will cut up the boat and either frame this historic piece of material or mount it on the cover of the expedition book. Donors will also receive the limited edition cut of the expedition film. The donor list will also appear on this site- if you wish to not be listed let us know. To donate use the paypal donations basket on the right.

For people who wish to donate more: for $2000 you get the limited edition book, film and boat signature together with a day spent with Robert Twigger at your school/company/organisation talking about expeditions/exploration/motivating change. For $10,000 a team of your choice gets to spend five days on a mini-expedition with Robert Twigger on the Wind of Change boat. For more information use the contact form at http://www.theexplorerschool.com (we are currently sorting the old adddress info@explorerschool.com) or windofchangeexpedition@yahoo.com

Sunday

Jun052011

Expedition Donors

Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 9:02AM

Expedition Donors to the Wind of Change Expedition

Donate $100USD to get your name on the boat and your limited edition book!

If you wish to donate to this site to just maintain the site- let me know. If you want to donate to the wind of change expedition mention that in the donation.

Donors receive the right to having their name written on the boat, and then receiving that name and piece of the sail (or the hull's skin) at the end of the expedition. This will be either framed or included in the beautifully bound, limited edition (only 1000 copies- all signed by all expedition members and the author) expedition book, which will also be available later in a conventional published edition.

Below are listed the excellent folk who have donated their $100 USD. Those who wish to have their name not mentioned are private donors.

1. Christopher Watson

2. Ryan McCliment + additional $30

3. Private donor

4. Private donor X2 donation

5. Private donor- group donation

6. Big private donor

7. Ray Phillips

the route

Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 4:03AM

Robert Twigger |

boat specifications

Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 3:59AM

The base boat is a 28 foot Sibcat catamaran.
Length, m	8,8
Width, m	4,0
Heigth from keel to top of mast, m	10,5
Diameter of inflatable hull	0,8
Heigth of cabin, m	1,3
Clearance, m	0,6
Length of the pack (bag), m	2,9
Weight (not more), kg	400
Freight-carrying capacity, kg	1 200
passenger / seating capacity, not more	12
Sails:	5
Mainsail, sq.m	15,6
Staysail 1, sq. m	7,2
Staysail 2, sq. m	5,1
Staysail (storm) 3, sq. m	2,1
jib / gennach, sq. m	13,2 / 29

Robert Twigger |