SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Alan Mulholland never imagined his seafaring adventure would gather such support from around P.E.I., let alone the world.
The thought of this, the poignant letters written by local students wanting to be a small part of his voyage, and the welcome from the province – like a long returning friend – brings a tear to his eye.
“I didn’t expect this amount of support. When I’m walking around town people recognize me. I’ve had phone calls from strangers. And the invaluable messages of kindness and advice I have received is heartwarming and sincere,” said Mulholland.
After two weeks of being home in Summerside, to avoid hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin, Mulholland was presented with three official flags to fly on his 26-foot sailboat called Wave Rover.
“Dennis King, the P.E.I. premier, presented me with the flag of Prince Edward Island to fly on Wave Rover. Member of parliament Bobby Morrissey (Egmont) presented me with a Canadian flag, and Basil Stewart, mayor of Summerside, gave me the city flag for Summerside,” he continued.
“For me, these flags are not just a piece of fabric but a real tie to my hometown, province, and country. All three of them said they are following my journey and are very happy with how I am showcasing P.E.I. Hearing this made me feel like an unofficial ambassador for the province.”
Glenda Mulholland added, “We never expected this much attention, but people are interested and supportive and it’s wonderful. He’s inspiring people to live their dream, and they like the fact Alan is doing this all on a shoestring budget.”
But the kindness doesn’t end there.
The University of Prince Edward Island Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering had students and technicians build Mulholland a stainless-steel safety bar. Now, Mulholland will have something safe to hold onto when stepping on and off his vessel.
Summerside Intermediate School students were even compelled to share up their words and be a part of Mulholland’s seafaring adventure.
“I briefly talked with the vice-principal of the school (Michelle Moore) before I left. We talked about how to get students involved, but the bottle-bound messages occurred to me while I was sailing. I would have loved to have done that as a student,” Mulholland said.
These marine missives by four SIS students will be tossed by Mulholland at marked (latitude and longitude) positions to see where fate – winds and currents – will deliver them.
“Two will be launched in the Northern Hemisphere and two in the Southern Hemisphere. One will be dropped just east of Cape Verde because of the current and trade winds. The second will be launched just south of the Galápagos Islands. The third, near Tahiti,” he continued.
The final marine missive will be launched in the South Atlantic Ocean, near Saint Helena. Saint Helena is the place of detention for Napoleon Bonaparte. He was taken to the island in 1815 for leading a Zulu army against the British rule.
Students will be able to follow these lesser-known geographical locations on a map, as well as learn more about their history.
“The SIS school has a map on the wall and the students will put pins with string to follow Wave Rover around the world. Spots, where the bottles are launched, will be marked. It could be a multi-year project to see where they end up,” said Mulholland while acknowledging this is a legacy for the children.
Alex Clark, owner of Evermoore Brewing Company in Summerside, plans to launch a craft beer in recognition of Mulholland’s voyage.
“Alan picking up and sailing around the world resonates with everyone on different levels; his sense of adventure, passion, and hands-on approach to setting his course in life. It’s what we all fantasize and romanticize about, being hands-on with our own lives,” said Clark.
Clark has a passion for sailing and the sea, he named his very brewery after his grandfather’s boat. The craft beer (made on-site) will be ready for when Mulholland returns.
“On Friday night at this Brewery, we celebrated Alan and played his Wave Rover YouTube videos on the projector. But when he returns I hope we can fill this whole building and release the drink in his name. It will be a great welcoming home party for him,” concluded Clark.
