Vuelta Vertical, the Spanish expedition that will circumnavigate the world from pole to pole

• It will be the first expedition in history to link the two poles, across five oceans, following a unique axis: from the 0º meridian to the 180º meridian.
• In 12 months, Paula Gonzalvo and Pedro Jiménez will travel 65,000 kilometers and can be followed online 24/7 from November 15th.

MADRID | OCTOBER 29 | COORDINATES 40°25′00.84″ N 3°42′12.24″ W

On November 15th, the Vertical Voyage will begin in Castellón, a pioneering initiative that combines sailing, adventure, science, and awareness. Paula Gonzalvo (Allende los Mares) and Pedro Jiménez (Alegría Marineros) will embark that day on the Alegría Marineros, a 21-meter aluminum sailboat, for a 12-month voyage around the world, covering 65,000 kilometers. One of the most innovative aspects will be the chosen route, which will connect the two poles and is entirely unprecedented.

The voyage they will undertake spans from the 0º meridian to the 180º meridian, that is, from the Arctic to Antarctica, crossing the Equator twice. The distance that the Alegría Marineros will cover, with Paula and Pedro at the helm, is equivalent to almost one and a half times around the Earth. This will be the first time a sailing expedition has circumnavigated the polar circles in a single year, with all the challenges that entails, including the need for the ship’s hull to be specially designed for navigating through ice.

But the chosen route isn’t the only groundbreaking aspect of the expedition. Also for the first time, the entire voyage will be broadcast live online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Viewers will be able to experience the six-hour solo watches and the maneuvers in the face of storms and icebergs, as if they were aboard the Alegría Marineros. Undoubtedly, an experience worth sharing with the public.

Science and outreach, hand in hand with adventure.

The journey, whose preparations are being finalized these days, will combine adventure, exploration, science, and outreach. During their voyage across five different oceans, Paula and Pedro will collect samples of marine biodiversity, analyze the presence of microplastics in polar waters, and record underwater noise and various ocean parameters.

For this reason, Vuelta Vertical has secured the support of prestigious academic institutions, such as the University of Alicante, the Ramón Margalef Multidisciplinary Institute, UCN, the UN Decade of Action on Oceans, and True World.

Raising awareness about the state of our planet and the need to conserve it will be another of the pillars guiding Vuelta Vertical’s activities, as well as its scientific work. “The sea reminds us that everything is connected, because what happens at the poles affects every corner of the planet,” says Pedro Jiménez. Paula Gonzalvo adds: “The live broadcast will allow anyone to experience what it means to sail in the polar regions, and at the same time understand why it is vital to protect them.”

Experience in sailing and outreach.

Paula Gonzalvo, known for her Allende los Mares (Beyond the Seas) initiative, is a captain with over 65,000 nautical miles sailed, who has also dedicated part of her efforts to communication and navigation. Pedro Jiménez, for his part, is the driving force behind the Alegría Marineros (Sailors’ Joy) sports association, and has over 200,000 nautical miles sailed, including polar crossings. Both will be responsible for bringing the Alegría Marineros to port while also leading this scientific project.

Because the two of them will be alone on the open sea, aboard the aluminum sailboat. They will only make five stops in a year, sailing day and night. They can be followed on the 24/7 live channel and on the official website www.vueltavertical.com. However, they will not have any external support in the face of storms, gales, hurricane-force winds, and waves that could exceed 10 meters.

FOR INTERVIEWS OR MORE INFORMATION:

SARA, ground communications support

comunicacion@vueltavertical.com

Tfno.: +34 614 379 580

From “Navegantes Oceánicos” (Bluewater Sailors) all our support to Paula and Pedro in this great challenge and unprecedented ocean project that is the Vuelta Vertical.