1000 Days to Inspire Ecological Self-sustenance
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin 
on 04.22.07
Why set sail with the goal of staying at sea, without once making landfall, for 1000 days? Well, there is the obvious reason: to break the record of 657 days set by Australian Jon Sanders from 1986-1988. But why did friends and companies sign on to support Reid Stowe and Soanya Ahmad in this endeavor? Perhaps they are motivated to back an attempt at "extending the limits of human endurance to promote a global message of inspiration, perseverance and human ecological self sustenance".
Sailors have always tested the limits in creating a microcosm capable of supporting the off-grid, self-reliant life. A sailboat, in this case a 70 foot (21 meter) gaff-rigged Schooner, is by definition a micro-home where efficient utilization of available space is essential. Stowe designed and built his boat, named Anne. Stowe and Ahmad will survive on the fish they can catch, the sprouts they can grow while under way and the provisions, including coal and firewood for their heater and fuel for limited motoring, which were stocked before launch on 21 April 2007. Solar panels will power the electronics on board and water will be collected from rainfall or desalinated.
You can follow the adventure, officially dubbed "1000 Days at Sea: the Mars Ocean Odessey", at 1000 days and read the blog at 1000 Days at Sea Blog. In case your "corporate-BS" detector is vibrating, you should know that "Mars" does not mean Stowe and Ahmad will survive on chocolate bars; Mars refers to the planet and reflects the similarities between sea voyages and interplanetary travel. If you check the list of sponsors, you will find it refreshingly free of companies not contributing their specialized expertize. We wish them luck.
Via ::Furled Sails Podcast #85
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.One thing I don't get: Reid's blog only lists HIM as the storyteller, he doesn't even mention Soanya's name in the subtitle. And he gloats in another post at how Yahoo listed his news story as Number One all day Sunday, as if he is in this more for rating and Fame and PR for his book and movie later, than really doing this for real reasons. He is a fame seeker. Like all Americans. see the subtitle of his blog. he is not for real and he is not giving Soanya credit. WHY? is he is this for OTHER reasons. the media should be asking this?
This is how REid's blog reads now: "1000 Days Non-stop at Sea:
Stories of Reid Stowe (sic), the Schooner (sic) Anne, and her Quest (Sic) to set a new sailing record of 1,000 Days @ Sea w/o stopping or resupply."
Notice no mention of Soanya's name there. Why is that? I wrote to him on his blog and asked him to correct his to say "stories of Reid Stowe and Soanya Ahmad....." But he deletede my comment and refused to make change. Go figure.
Looks like an ill prepared, even dangerous adventure.
Has been bobbing about in equatorial waters seemingly uninterested in the planned circumnavigation. Rightly so. The vessel appears incapable of dealing with what it would face in the southern ocean.
I hope they return safely.
Can't believe that I am watching this. At first, I was intrigued by the adventure. But, the more you read, the more foolish it appears...and also sad. Sad for Sonya. She must have nothing in life to jump on board with a guy twice her age without ever experiencing real ocean life.
I hope they make it, but am concernced for their safety. Reid appears to be quite self-abosorbed, unprepared and pompous. He is constantly running around the boat doing something. Granted there are many things to do, but for 10-12 hours a day?
I hope Sonya gets home alive.