Explorer Mike Horn launches new ‘What’s Left’ expedition to explore the world and inspire environmental actions
From the Yacht Club de Monaco’s marina, the Swiss-South African Mike Horn cast off aboard his ice-breaker sailing boat Pangaea (32m), which has just emerged from a twoyear restoration by his partner, Sunreef Yachts. Now flying the Monaco flag, the boat was on the start of another four-year round the world expedition, this one entitled ‘What’s Left’, watched by YCM President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Just before his departure, Mike invited youngsters from YCM’s Sports Section to come aboard for a tour, much to their delight.
‘What’s Left’ expedition: what legacy do we want to leave? After more than 30 years of expeditions all over the world with the unfailing support of sponsors and partners Panerai, Hexaom, Cummins, Sunreef Yachts, Explora Journeys and Yacht Club de Monaco of which he is a member, Mike Horn is rethinking his adventure career with one last major project. The ‘What’s Left’ expedition will revisit iconic places that marked his career, as well as locations he has not been to yet. The purpose is to take stock of the state of the planet, become the spokesperson and involve the public in this adventure. “With Pangaea as the principal mode of transport, this expedition will take us to the Arctic, the Amazon jungle, Antarctica, Patagonia, the Australian desert, New Zealand, northern Canada, Alaska and Asia,” explains Mike Horn who plans stopovers of six months in each destination with the four-member crew.
Everyone must do their bit Fourteen years after the start of the first expedition on Pangaea, that also left from Yacht Club de Monaco, the man who has spent his life exploring the planet and observing nature now intends to protect it by engaging the new generation. That’s why at the same time as launch of his new expedition, Mike Horn and his team are also launching the second edition of their environmental programme for young people, Pangaea X, conceived to inspire and support them to bring to fruition projects that have a positive impact.
By combining exploration, education and an eco-commitment, Mike hopes to inspire a new generation of stakeholders in the planet and encourage positive action towards a more sustainable future. “The aim is to support them as they develop their projects with the help of experts and coaches. During the programme, teams will learn about concepts such as Business Model, Design Thinking and Business Plan to help them make their idea achievable. It’s only then that they can come aboard and make their project a reality. We then become a platform for execution,” adds the explorer. The boat will be heading first for Iceland to bring on board students from the Bionet team which won the first Pangaea X programme.
Time now for action “Faced with the climate emergency, it is imperative that living proof replaces the promises”, said HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. It’s a philosophy shared by the explorer: “Thanks to extensive research we know now that we have to make every effort to change the situation. We know sea temperatures are rising, that we have problems with microplastics, that fires and floods are increasing. Nature is in revolt”. It’s all reflected in the name of this ‘What’s Left’ expedition. With Mike Horn as an ambassador and his ‘What’s Left’ expedition, Yacht Club de Monaco as a driving force in the environmental transition continues to encourage any initiative that is in line with its collective ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ approach.
