Stowe was
accompanied
by a
flotilla of
boats up the
Hudson River
to Pier 81
(Circle
Line/World
Yacht pier)
where he
disembarked
at 1 p.m.
and stepped
foot on land
for the
first time
in over
three years.
He was
reunited
with his
companion,
Soanya
Ahmad, who
sailed with
Stowe for
the first
306 days of
the voyage,
but had to
leave due to
morning
sickness.
Ahmad now
holds the
women’s
record for
the longest
non-stop sea
voyage.
Stowe also
met, his son
Darshen, for
the first
time.
Darshen was
conceived at
sea and is
now almost
two years
old.
Stowe left
port April
21, 2007,
accompanied
by his
companion
Ahmad.
Together
they sailed
from the
Hudson
towards the
Atlantic on
a ship laden
with three
years worth
of food,
beans for
sprouting,
solar panels
for energy,
large tarps
to catch
rainwater, a
laptop, an
Iridium
satellite
telephone,
and a JouBeh
satellite
tracking
unit that
would verify
the path of
the 1000
days voyage
(see Google
map at
www.1000days.net).
Stowe
survived a
collision
with a
freighter on
day 15,
endured
tough
repairs with
limited
supplies,
through the
loss of his
companion
and only
crewmember
when she had
to leave the
boat due to
nausea, and
through the
solitary
days that
followed.
Still, Stowe
managed to
create two
large scale
conceptual
art drawings
with the
course that
he sailed,
the shape of
a whale in
the Pacific
and a heart
in the
Atlantic.
Why 1000
Days?
One thousand
days is the
time
estimated
for a future
mission to
Mars, which
will have
similar
attributes
of isolation
and vessel
self-reliance
– hence the
project’s
name, “Mars
Ocean
Odyssey.”
Stowe’s
primary
motivation
is “to take
exploration
on the sea
further than
anyone has
before.”
Linked to
thousands of
followers on
the Web, on
day 638 he
writes, “…it
takes more
to live at
sea than a
good boat
and all the
preparations,
skills and
psychology
than you can
imagine. It
takes the
continued
support of
the loving
consciousness
of
humankind.”
Despite
numerous
mental,
physical,
and
emotional
hardships
that would
have caused
another
person to
head for the
safety of
the shore,
Stowe
remains
optimistic,
finding
strength in
a deep
spiritual
connection
to the sea.
Visit the
official
website at
www.1000days.net
to read
daily blogs
from the
Anne, see
her current
location,
hear audio
clips, and
much more.
1000 Days
Non-Stop At
Sea
Arrival
Details
June 17,
2010
10 a.m. to 1
p.m.
Flotilla
welcomed
Stowe from
south of the
Verrazano
Bridge to
Pier 81
Noon
(approximately)
Best viewing
of the
Welcome
Flotilla was
along the
esplanade –
Battery Park
City
Many brought
signs saying
“WELCOME
HOME,
REID!!!”
1 p.m. to 3
p.m.
Welcome
event on
Pier 81
(Circle
Line/World
Yacht) Foot
of West 42nd
Street &
Hudson River
Stowe
landed,
reunited
with family,
greetings by
NYC VIPs
Pier 81
event
was
generously
hosted by
Circle Line
/ World
Yacht
Free food &
champagne
was donated
by Circle
Line / World
Yacht
June 20,
2010
6 p.m. to 9
p.m.
Welcome
party at
Pier 66
Maritime
Foot of West
26th Street
& Hudson
River
Fundraiser
for Stowe
Music, food,
bar – Meet
Reid Stowe
and
celebrate
Tickets
available on
www.1000days.net |