An internationally renowned explorer is looking to take 10 people on a once in a lifetime polar expedition and voyage.
Jim McNeill, who has spent over 30 years undertaking polar exploration, is hoping to take would-be explorers from inner cities areas on the Ocean Warrior Project.
The lucky candidates will join 134 other explorers for a marine expedition from Plymouth to Resolute Bay, High Artic Canada, and back again.
Each participant will be hand-selected and personally funded by Jim for the 10,000 nautical mile trip.
The voyage will depart in June via Europe’s largest three-masted wooden schooner, SV Linden, and supported by world-renowned yachtswoman Patron Tracy Edwards.
Inspired by his childhood on a Barnet council estate in North London, Jim is determined to help those from unprivileged backgrounds achieve the extraordinary.
Requiring no previous experience, all funded Ocean Warrior Project participants will need to sign up for Warrior Selection before the end of February.
Aspiring explorers will need to show initiative, resilience, tenacity, and good humour - all of which will be tested during a series of pre-selection challenges held in February.
Jim said: “My goal is to share the gift of exploration with individuals from all backgrounds, but especially so with people who don’t have the opportunity; those that have big dreams, but no clear path to making them a reality.
"This is all about citizen science and shouldn’t be limited by a background that might make it harder for individuals to raise the necessary funds to pay for a place on this historic trip.”
Explaining the scientific significance of the voyage, Jim added: “All participants on the Ocean Warrior Project will collect critical ‘ground truthing’ scientific measurements that will help to deliver ‘the holy grail of oceanography’: understanding how much carbon is stored in our oceans, and how that is impacting on acidification, pollution, and species.”
All of Jim’s previous explorations have used similar ‘ground truthing’ techniques to help the likes of NASA build a better understanding of the Polar Regions.
These expeditions have also unearthed immediate anecdotal evidence that is helping build a better picture of how long it might be before catastrophic weather occurrences, or irreversible environmental damage, is done to the planet.
All participants will receive training for the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW: A V1/1-1 and 1-4), required by all crew on commercial vessels over 24 metres.
All candidates, including those with bursaries, will be asked to pursue funding activities to raise awareness and help fund other places.
To find out more information about Ocean Warrior Project, visit www.warrior-ocean.com or www.ice-warrior.com
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