Traveling Around The World On A Jet Ski, Spanish Explorer Alvaro de Marichalar

 

Álvaro de Marichalar Sáenz de Tejada arrived in Belize as part of his world tour to circumnavigate the globe aboard the smallest craft in history. His tour commemorates the 500th anniversary of the World’s first circumnavigation and historic voyage by Ferdinand Magellan from 1519 – 1522. Having campaigned against plastic pollution for the past 40 years, Álvaro’s expedition is aimed at raising awareness about the importance of marine conservation. With support from the BTB, Alvaro arrived on Friday, December 2, in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. (www.FirstWorldTour.com)

World Explorer Alvaro Tejada arrives in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Having departed from the harbor in Chetumal, Mexico, Alvaro found his way to Belize as he arrived in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Mr. Álvaro de Marichalar Sáenz de Tejada, holder of 14 world records, is recreating this voyage around the world to raise awareness for marine conservation, fighting plastic pollution and illegal fishing.

He states, "Urgent action is needed to protect the ocean. Our future is directly linked to the ocean and we cannot continue to treat it as a rubbish dump whilst fishing species to extinction.”

To celebrate and promote the First Tour of the World, Álvaro de Marichalar set sail three years ago from Seville on the historical date, August 10, 2019-1519. After sailing around Spain, Portugal and France without any support vessel, he then crossed the Atlantic ocean from southern Spain (Gibraltar) to Guadeloupe Island with the support of the French exploration ship YERSIN.

From Guadeloupe he continued navigating alone without a support ship, calling at the Caribbean islands all the way to Miami where he arrived on March 16, 2020. The pandemic stopped his expedition until February 19, 2022, when he was able to restart his Challenge, sailing along the Gulf of Mexico all the way to Bacalar.

Follow Alvaro's Journey: Click Here  https://my.yb.tl/NUMANCIA

God willing, Alvaro will continue to Panama to cross to the Pacific ocean coast and travel up all the way to Alaska where he will then cross over to Russia to continue along Asia and finally into the Mediterranean before arriving in Seville.

He has two years of navigation ahead of him. Alvaro sails alone and always on his feet aboard his boat measuring just three meters long named NUMANCIA. Álvaro's small boat has a maximum range of 200 nautical miles thanks to its supplementary fuel tank, which allows Álvaro to sail without a support boat. Álvaro makes stops at islands and coastal ports to refuel, get food, rest and repair his boat; when he is unable to reach land, Álvaro sleeps at sea. As he has very little space, he can only carry water, nuts and honey on board his small vessel. He also gives motivational lectures at fishermen's guilds, town halls, universities, schools, sailing clubs, prisons, hospitals and Navy stations.

About Alvaro:

* He is an entrepreneur in the real estate and telecommunications sector since he was 21 years old who founded TeleSat in 1983, the first Spanish company of satellite dishes.

* His passion is sailing. He has made forty maritime expeditions achieving 14 world records of navigation.
* Among other achievements, he sailed from Rome to New York in 2002. From Barcelona to Odessa, Ukraine in 2004 or from Hong Kong to Tokyo in 2006.

* For the last 40 years he has campaigned against plastic pollution in the sea and illegal fishing.

* Lecturer, writer and political activist who founded the first pan-European political movement called OmniaEuropa.

* Álvaro is producing a documentary series about his current Solo sailing around the World in the SMALLEST CRAFT in History.

Shared from Amber Gris Today

Influential Hawaiian Watermen

 The people of Hawaii are highly regarded for their knowledge and prowess of the ocean, a skill grounded in necessity that began when ancient Polynesians paddled into the unknown and discovered the Hawaiian Islands. The ocean served as a major food source, form of entertainment, power and general way of life for thousands of years, and it’s a skill that continues to be valued today. Whether it’s ocean navigation, paddling, big wave surfing or capturing the unique life that lives under the surface, we recognize the importance of furthering the cause for those who made it possible and continue to challenge the next generation of ocean masters in Hawaii today. Read More

Numancia First World Tour - Álvaro de Marichalar

 

1519-1522 FIRST World Tour on a Jetski relived in 2019-2022 by ÁLVARO DE MARICHALAR 

What Is Freediving? The Perfect Way To Explore Underwater On A Single Breath

 

Freediving is breath-hold diving, being in and under the water while holding one’s breath.

Today, most people associate freediving with images of superhumans plunging to the ocean’s darkest depths with only the air in their lungs, the power of their bodies, and the will of their minds to keep them alive and bring them back.

However, every time you slip into the water and hold your breath, you are a freediver, exploring our world of water from the shallows to the depths. Read More

By Emma Farrell

Who’s Driving the Ski? This Is Where Big-Wave Rescue Teams Come From

 

Drake Stanley jets Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker to safety. Photo: Abe Alarcon.

Big waves have a certain mystique to them, at least when viewed from the beach or via the internet. When you get into the thick of things, with tons of water moving around, the mystique can fade pretty quickly. Now add the typical lineup chaos you might experience at a crowded break like Malibu or Pleasure Point, and shit gets downright horrifying.

With more and more people getting into surfing in recent years, surprisingly – or not – there’s also more and more people taking on the waves of Maverick’s, Jaws, and Nazaré. And unlike your local beachbreak, the crowds at big-wave locations can produce some truly life-threatening scenarios. I caught up with several rescue teams to learn about what these storied locations look like from the perspective of the rescuer, and the efforts being made in recent years to manage the crowds of chargers who come to test themselves on some of the biggest and gnarliest waves in the world. I basically wanted to find out where these rescue teams come from and why they do what they do. Read More

Liz Clark Waterwoman

Check out this amazing waterwoman and her love for the ocean.

I learned to sail at seven years old in San Diego, California on a little red sailing dinghy. At ten, I completed a 5,000-mile, 6-month cruise in Mexico with my family on our sailboat, The Endless Summer, experiencing a different culture, the freedom and beauty of sea travel, and opening my mind to horizons beyond my hometown reality. I credit the origin of my environmental concern to my exposure to the contrasting landscapes of grave pollution and radical natural beauty in Mexico.

Albeit very young, this trip profoundly impacted me. Two things were clear when we returned to San Diego in 1990: I wanted to protect the natural world from human destruction and, one day, I wanted to be the captain of my own sailboat.

At fifteen, my love of the ocean and natural athletic inclination led me to try surfing. Soon after, it was all I wanted to do. Determined to excel in the sport, I spent all my free time in the water and eventually started competing. I surfed in private contests and for the UCSB surf team while studying at UC Santa Barbara. My competitive career culminated in a win at the NSSA Nationals, making me the 2002 College Women’s National Champion. Although I enjoyed pushing my level of surfing through competition, I was more inclined to chasing nature saturated,
exploratory surf experiences. I enjoyed surfing most for the adventures leading to remote breaks, the connection with the elements, and the opportunities for self-discovery. I was full of bigger questions that needed answers.

I began taking surf trips during summers and school breaks to Barbados, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hawaii, Mexico, Nicaragua, and a ‘study abroad’ trip Australia. As I finished up my degree in Environmental Studies, I remember feeling frustrated by the direction the world seemed headed. Our distance and apathy for the natural world and failure as a country to seek and promote environmentally sustainable living left me disappointed and frustrated. I clung to my dream as a ‘way out’.

My surfing obsession further fueled this fire. The pressures of increasing crowds and urban pollution made the idea of a free-ranging life on the sea seem even more appealing. After graduation, I crewed on different boats to gain experience for about a year, and then spontaneously came upon the chance to become the captain of my own sailboat. Thanks to the generosity of my friend and mentor, Barry Schuyler, along with support from my family, Swell and I were united.

Through this stroke of serendipity, my intense determination, and the generosity and advice of innumerable people in Santa Barbara and beyond, Swell was converted into an ocean-worthy vessel. For almost three years, I worked with local professionals–mechanical, rigging, sail repair, radio, fiberglassing, and others, learning and overhauling each of Swell’s vital systems in order to prepare myself and my ship for sea. Only having sailed the boat a handful of times during this busy preparation period, I honestly didn’t know whether I would be capable of a captain’s tasks and responsibility. Although the uncertainties ahead petrified me, the alternative of not going seemed even more unthinkable. And so in October of 2005, I pointed Swell’s bow south from the Santa Barbara harbor.

Over the 20,000 nautical miles of ocean I’ve sailed since, I’ve discovered that the most important sort of exploration happens within. The enormous sense of fulfillment I’ve gained from following my dream, delving into self-awareness, and living a simple life close to nature motivates me to continue sharing my experiences in hopes of the same for others.

A few powerful lessons I’ve learned along the way:

• We really do have immense inner power to create the life we desire and manifest our dreams.
• By using the challenges and adversities in life as opportunities to grow and learn, something positive can come out of almost any difficult situation.
• We’re all just doing our best, so instead of pointing fingers or placing blame, it’s always more useful to look within for solutions.
• Practicing relentless positivity and loving-kindness has the power to completely change one’s reality.
• WE ARE ONE! Nature, humanity, and all life on Earth are inextricably and fantastically connected. Seeking to understand and participate in this Greatness is not only a path to immense personal fulfillment, but also to healthy, peaceful planet and a populace that could exist in harmony with nature! Read More