« The Things we Value the Most | Main | Visitors »

February 20, 2007

The Circumnavigation Debate - Your Opinion Needed!

LOCATION: Arabian Sea Crossing
Day: 21
SEE WHERE WE ARE!
Longitude: N:15°23.286'
Latitude: E: 061°27.814'
Heading: 270°M
Wind: E, Force: 1
Miles from Mumbai: 747
Miles to Djibouti: 1,053

Some of you may already be aware of the dispute that is currently brewing between no less than three expeditions attempting or claiming human powered circumnavigations. In May of last year Canadian Colin Angus completed a circle of the northern hemisphere with Expedition Canada but is claiming a full circumnavigation. Erden Eruç of Around n Over, Tim Harvey (Angus's former travel mate) of Vancouver to Vancouver and myself with Expedition 360 are challenging the claim on the grounds that it doesn't meet the minimum requirements as laid down by Guinness Book for their human powered circumnavigation category, which include the need for the traveler to cross the equator at least once and in addition for a 'true' circumnavigation to be achieved, reach a pair of antipodes en route (points on the surface of the planet that are opposite to each other). Angus is referencing guidelines delineated for aircraft, including hot air balloons, by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) that allow for travel in just one hemisphere.

A forum for public debate on this contentious issue has been opened by National Geographic in the March issue of Adventure and your input in the form of a letter to the editor is urgently requested! To download the relevant piece click here (2Mb PDF).

Letters to the editor can be sent through to this email address -
email: adventure@ngs.org

Or snail mail -
Letters to the Editor
Adventure
104 West 40th St
New York, NY 10018
USA

Include name, mailing address and phone number.

The only thing I would personally request is that you enter into this debate with an open mind, putting aside any pre-existing loyalties in the interests of a fair hearing for all parties concerned. This dispute is one that can only be resolved within the public domain by readers like you, so please if you have the time, digest the various arguments and consider offering an opinion.

You might also find the following links of some use as additional reference -
Expedition 360 information and stance on antipodal points: http://www.expedition360.com/home/circumnavigation.htm
Around n' Over expedition background and stance on antipodal points: http://www.around-n-over.org/circumnavigation.htm
Wikipedia on circumnavigation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumnavigation
Wikipedia on antipodes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipodes


This map, which appears in the National Geographic piece, is a little misleading as it suggests that all three expeditions are in dispute with each other. This is not so. The routes for Lewis and Eruç are in mutual agreement using the antipodal requirement as their benchmarks. They are in dispute with the Angus route, which traveled only in the northern hemisphere.

jason

Posted on February 20, 2007 3:02 PM

Comments

Circumnavigation wars!

The edit wars on Wikipedia for 'Colin Angus' and 'Circumnavigation' are hilarious. The Angus camp is royally ticked off that the Guinness guidelines have changed, and is not giving up their title without a battle.

I reverted you back to the 'Circumnavigation' article, where you rightfully belong.

Keep on pedelling my friends, to circumnavigation heaven!

Posted by: Chris Goulet [TypeKey Profile Page] at February 23, 2007 9:09 AM