Chapter of
"The explorer is the poet of action and exploring is the poetry of deeds."
--VILHJALMUR STEFANSSON
Although there is abundant evidence supporting the theory that mankind sailed between the continents well before European civilizations began sailing the open sea, many scholars continue to discount the idea that reed boats could have made these long ocean passages. In the spring of 2000 Phil led an international crew of eight aboard an ancient style reed ship for the first of five planned voyages required to complete the historic circumnavigation. The successful maiden voyage of the Viracocha I, which sailed 2,500 miles from Chile to Easter Island, has paved the way for the quest to continue aboard four additional reed boats, the Viracocha II-V.
This coming November, expedition crew members, a team of skilled Bolivian reed boat builders and local Easter Islanders will begin harvesting the two million reeds necessary to form the hull of the 64 foot reed ship called Viracocha II. Construction of the massive hull, rigging and bamboo cabin will take place during the following 80 days on the shores of the most isolated and mysterious island in the world, Easter Island, otherwise known as Isla de Pascua or Rapu Nui.
The voyage from Easter Island to Cairns, Australia, will set sail in February 2003 and will take four months to complete with stops at Pitcairn, Tahiti, Fiji and New Caledonia islands. The journey will push the life of a reed vessel as the race against water absorption and the inevitable slow sinking of the hull will take place over the 8,000 mile journey. It will be the longest reed ship voyage ever made in recorded history.
Over the past fifteen years, Phil has crossed the entire North American Continent by canoe following the route of Lewis and Clark, climbed Andean peaks in search of lost Inca artifacts as part of the "Inca Project", and become the first person to climb the highest mountain in all 23 nations of North, Central and South America. We will see and hear what he learned on these expeditions, and how he will apply his Viracocha I experience to the second daunting phase of the journey.
See you on the 2nd!