On April 21st 2007 Reid Stowe, 55, and his girlfriend Soanya Ahmad, 23, set out from the Shipyard Marina in North Hoboken Harbor for a 1000 days'n'nights' non-stop round-the-world voyage. On their 70-foot yacht, the Schooner Anne, they will make the longest ever circumnavigation, longer than Australian Jon Sanders's who circumnavigated the globe in a trip of 657 days.

The routeFor Soanya it is the first sailing trip ever, she says that she hasn't gotten seasick, but she should keep in mind that by the time they reach Cape Horn (find the map) they will possibly face 100-foot waves and icebergs and snow with nothing more but an iron woodburning stove to keep the main cabin warm. On its way south toward the Equator their ship will draw a heart-shaped courseline on the face of the Atlantic waters. And for sure it will be a thrilling but also a strength-consuming experience. The two courageous seafarers will be alone for almost three years, far from land with no food except that crammed into the boat including a bathtub-full of provisions. They will also be fishing even while asleep as they have two contraptions installed at the back of the boat that will catch fish for them (sure when it's caught they will have to wake up and get it out of the water).

As we all know 80% of human body consists of water and the sweet-water-problem is a major concern. Reid and Soanya will collect rainwater in on-deck-tanks and use a desalinator to distil fresh water from seawater. As for the energy there's also nothing to worry about: the sailboat is equipped with solar panels which produce enough energy to power the electronics and lights. The expenses are covered by corporate and individual donations; Stowe and Ahmad got free food, sails and marine ropes. The idea of their voyage is to show that any human being can not only 'preserve and survive, but also stay inspired and in love'.

Reid and Soanya accidentally met four years ago when she - a then college student - was taking pictures of Manhattan's waterfront where the boat was docked. At that time Reid already had in mind the idea of circumnavigating the globe and was looking for someone to go with him. After some hesitation Soanya said 'yes'. She is younger than the boat she's going to sail on: Anne was built about 30 years ago by Stowe and his family and was named after his mother Anne. The schooner has a glass and steel hull and wooden interior, weighs 60 tons and resembles the best 19th century American boats. According to Reid, it is 'round like a bottle, with a deep keel, so it floats like a duck in rough seas, and cuts through the water like a submarine'.

Anne under sailHowever Ahmad's parents are still a little terrified by the idea that their only daughter will embark for around the world voyage with a man they are yet to know. Now their major concern is how on earth they will keep in touch with the voyagers. This won't be a hard thing to do since Stowe and Ahmad will be available 24/7 through a GPS system which tracks their location and allows to send and receive e-mail. Besides they will daily post photographs, videos and blogs on their site.

The voyage is entitled '1000 Days at Sea: The Mars Ocean Odyssey' in comparison with a space journey to Mars which requires approximately the same period of time and stamina. Stowe is an experienced seafarer: in the past four decades he has sailed to every continent including Antarctica. He even once voyaged with his beloved one - in 1999 he and his French wife completed a 200-day voyage. He is not married to Soanya but now they're facing 1000 days together and only time will show if the relationship endures.

Stowe's ex-wife gave the couple a life raft and waved them goodbye along with Reid's parents. Such journey is an authentic school of life for everyone because at every moment one has to evaluate the situation and do what's required. The couple also has a pump-up boat for emergencies. And if there's by any chance a shipwreck, an emergency beacon goes to all points while they wait for rescue on a life raft with survival equipment and clothing. They have everything: a full stock of tools, paint, brushes, a medical kit: they have also learned how to give first aid, to clean and stitch up a cut and how to set bones.

Stowe and Ahmad also have a small library full of books by Herman Melville, the collected works of Joseph Conrad as well as a small amount of books on yoga, meditation and spirituality - precisely what they need to stay calm and confident at every moment of the journey.

God luck to you, Reid and Soanya!

http://www.yachtcouncil.com/boating-stories.asp?t=stories&news_id=248