Maltese sailing instructor takes on ambitious project

A Maltese sailing instructor is in the process of navigating to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Mars project in the Haughton Crater on Devon Island from Australia.

Alex Whitworth will be guiding his sailing boat through the North West Passage, in time to witness the total solar eclipse from the crater in August.

The project presents countless opportunities to demonstrate aspects of science, environmental change, planning and the human relationship in difficult circumstances. In fact, a number of people have suggested that the experience be put to educational use.

Mr Whitworth, residing Down Under, together with Peter Crozier, had earlier circumnavigated the globe through Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope.

As a result of a link established with the International Space Station during the circumnavigation, both Mr Whitworth and Mr Crozier were invited to give a presentation in the United States, using their experience as a simple analogue for travel into space.

This time around, Mr Crozier was unable to assist Mr Whitworth for personal reasons. Instead, Corrie McQueen, an experienced circumnavigator, has been asked to replace him. Circumnavigator Kimbra Lindus will also be joining them at Dutch Harbour in Alaska.

In a blog post before departure, Mr Whitworth said this time is quite different from the last. There are different obstacles and different travellers, although it will still be the same indifferent ocean.

Ms McQueen also describes her haircut before departure in a blog post. She cut her hair so she could depart with neat bunches and then move into plaits. But as it gets longer, Mr Whitworth will have to take over the role of hairdresser, she said.

The sailing boat left shore earlier this month, with the forecast looking gentle for the first week of passage.

In a post the following morning, Mr Whitworth said there isn't much of a plan, except in the broadest sense. His aim is to get to Dutch Harbour as fast as possible without breaking things and still talking to each other.

Later through the passage, Ms McQueen said that "this time around there's a certain level of expectation, even if, for the most part, that is just in the mind. We will get to where we are going when we get there. If we don't get to where we aimed for, I don't think of it as a failure, just one of those things that happen."

For the sailing boat's current location and regular blog posts, log onto www.berrimilla.com.