A very warm thank you to Daryl Cook for writing a press release for project. A PDF version of this release is available here.
HTML version:
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
BLOGGER TAKES ON THE OCEAN
Berlin, Germany: September 6, 2006 — American writer, journalist and wit Mark Twain wrote:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.?��Ǩ��
And that is what intrepid artist and self-confessed geek Nick Jaffe is planning to do–literally. Nick, with little sailing experience or money to fund the project, is attempting to sail solo all the way home to Melbourne, Australia from the UK on a small boat.
Nick intends to set foot aboard deck of ‘Constellation’ his 1972 Contessa, setting sail from Southampton, UK in May 2007 travelling via the Americas, through the Panama canal, via Pitcairn Island to New Zealand, and is planning on arriving safely at his final destination in Melbourne, Australia in early 2008.
Following in the footsteps of fellow Aussie solo adventurers Kay Cottee, and Jesse Martin, An adventure of a lifetime, Nick’s plan would be an ambitious and bold undertaking for anyone, under most circumstances. But Nick is not your average Joe, nor is he operating under what one might call normal circumstances. He’s a 25-year-old Aussie with a big dream–but at this point in time–very little else, except a boat!
Nick is an aspiring artist who is currently living in Berlin, yet he barely speaks a word of German. He makes a very modest living as a contract computer programmer in Berlin, attempting to save enough money just to pay off the boat, let alone try and cover all the other expenses that go with gearing up to take such a journey.
Nick’s boating experience is as modest as his lifestyle. He has no offshore solo experience (yet), and he plans to sail half way around the world in less than 9 months time.
So why would one attempt such a massive undertaking under such challenging conditions?
In his own words, it (the journey) is “a bringing together of my greatest interests, in order to create a diverse project far greater than myself, one that is overwhelming in every way … a serious act of playfulness, a melting pot of seemingly disparate interests, and the making of a child like fantasy.”
Nick plans on using a variety of online technologies and digital media, such as a blog, podcasts and photography extensively as part of his journey. Leading up to the voyage and while he is at sea, content will be consistently updated in an attempt to create a genuinely captivating and worthwhile project that the world can follow and share his experiences along the way.
Technology will also play a large part in helping him make a safe and successful voyage, via navigation, safety, and communications technology.
Nick is also hoping that his adventure will raise environmental awareness towards pollution free transport, alternative forms of energy and ocean protection, issues that Nick is very passionate about.
Nick’s journey will culminate in an exhibition of what promises to be a spectacular digital collection and other artwork from his time at sea.
A combination of art, technology, environmentalism and adventure, Nick Jaffe’s planned solo boating journey from the UK to Australia in May 2007 is ambitious, daring and bold. In true pioneering spirit it will not only be an exploration of the digital frontier, but a journey and discovery of self.
For additional information contact Nick Jaffe or visit www.bigoceans.com.
About Nick:
Nick Jaffe is an artist and software developer who currently lives & works in Berlin, Germany. He?��Ǩ�Ѣs trying to sail home to Melbourne, Australia and write about his tales on the web. He has little money or sailing experience, however he does have a big dream, and (somehow) a boat.
Contact:
N. Jaffe
Greifswalder Str. 206
10405 Berlin
GERMANY
http://www.bigoceans.com
Mobile +49 151 15802663
Home +49 30 4 9784389
Daryl Cook (Media Relations)
daryl.cook at gmail dot com
September 8th, 2006 at 10:49 am
[…] So, to get things rolling, I wrote a press release for Nick to put up on his site in the hope that I can pay it forward for Nick and generate some traffic and interest in his story. It’s probably a little contrived but I honestly believe that this is a story that will be of interest to others. If you agree with me, please digg it, blog it, help out with some link lovin’ to Nick’s site or contribute in some other way to spreading the word, as far and wide as possible. Tags […]