SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — As of Saturday, Dec. 21, Summerside’s Alan Mulholland will have set off on the next leg of his around the world sailing adventure.
Mulholland is currently in the Canary Islands, off the west coast of Africa, prepping his vessel, the 25.5-foot sailboat Wave Rover, for another crossing of the Atlantic.
This time, he’s headed west, aiming for the Panama Canal and an eventual crossing into the Pacific Ocean.
“That will be a very very long passage," said Mulholland.
"It will be the longest passage to date for both me and Wave Rover. It’s a little over 4,000 miles.”
Before heading west, though, Mulholland actually has to go further south from the Canaries, down the coast of Africa about 700 miles before hitting the trade winds and bearing towards Panama.
Assuming there is good weather and he doesn’t run into any unexpected challenges, one of which is pirates, he estimates the crossing will take about 55 days.
On Tuesday, Mulholland said he feels more than up to the challenge.
“I feel like the boat’s never been better. She’s really set up for this voyage now," he said.
“I almost consider that these last two or three big passages across the Atlantic were like the shakedown. I have a really good feeling now for the boat and I’ve made improvements. I’m expecting nothing but the best.”
Mulholland and his wife, Glenda, spent more than a year rebuilding Wave Rover in their Summerside home’s driveway before he finally set out in July on his solo crossing around the world.
To read more about Mulholland's adventures, check out his blog.
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