Two Spanish sailors, Paula (Allende los Mares) and Pedro (Alegría Marineros), will cross the Earth from pole to pole on a year-long voyage aboard a sailboat. “Vuelta Vertical”: Adventure, science, and awareness.

Paula Gonzalvo and Pedro Jiménez are ready to begin their 65,000-kilometer journey in the first expedition in history to follow the route from the 0º to the 180º meridian. A party in Madrid this Saturday the 8th, and an official presentation in Castellón on the 12th, are the milestones prior to the start of the expedition.

The Copernicus Hall in Madrid hosted a party this Saturday to present the details of the Vuelta Vertical expedition to collaborators, sponsors, and friends. The enormous challenge—a 12-month journey, 65,000 kilometers circumnavigating the Earth and linking the two poles, with 24/7 online tracking—received a warm welcome.

Flanked by several vessels that escorted it to the open sea, the sailboat “Alegría Marineros” has set sail with Paula Gonzalvo and Pedro Jiménez as captains. Thus begins twelve months of unprecedented navigation to circumnavigate the globe, linking the two poles; the first leg will conclude at the end of December in South America.

Adverse meteorology has been the main protagonist of the initial days of this adventure, which started on Saturday, November 15th, from the port of Castellón. Paula Gonzalvo: “Despite the difficulties, these first days have served to recharge strength after the intensity of preparations”.

Paula Gonzalvo and Pedro Jiménez are sailing live 24/7 across the South Atlantic in extreme conditions, approaching icebergs and some of the most challenging waters on the planet. After traveling 14,000 kilometers from Castellón, the expedition reaches the 50 Howler Monkeys with sub-zero temperatures and continuous storms. The sailboat Copernicus enters an iceberg zone after detecting the first ice of the expedition.

The crew of the Vuelta Vertical has arrived in Cape Town after 12 days without communication and 1,900 nautical miles at sea at 52° South. The team will focus on repairing and replacing critical components to restore safety, autonomy, and ocean-going capability.