Video: Mike Horn’s Pangaea Expedition

Mike Horn's vessel, also named PANGAEA, is a Mercedes-Benz double-master measuring 35 meters (115 feet) in length

Mercedes-Benz has been a long time friend and title sponsor of world explorer Mike Horn and his PANGAEA Project for years. Over the last 4 years, Horn has taken advantage of his position by traveling the world with his PANGAEA sailboat to bring social and ecological projects to life during various expeditions.  The video  from AMG and the photos form Mike Horn himself show a small bit of what the PANGAEA Project has seen.

What is the PANGAEA Project and who is Mike Horn?

Mike Horn is often acknowledged as the greatest explorer of our time. His adventures extend the boundaries of human achievement and environmental awareness. His latest endeavor is The PANGAEA Project and Young Explorers Program.

The PANGAEA Project is: A 4-year circumnavigation of the world through a series of 12-scheduled expeditions each to different terrain including mountain, desert, ocean and arctic snow. For each Pangaea expedition, Mike and his team select students between the ages of 15 and 20 to accompany him.

The expedition is named Pangaea after the supercontinent that existed 250 million years ago. It represents the objective of ONE WORLD which Mike Horn and his Young Explorers set out by land and see to Explore, Learn and Act.

The project has covered over 100,000 miles, reaching the North and South Poles and crossing all the continents and oceans. Mike Horn’s mission aims to unite the continents again with a powerful environmental message of conservation and preservation. During each leg of the expedition Mike Horn and the young explorers seek to understand the interaction between man, nature and the elements.

Mike Horn’s vessel — also named PANGAEA — is a Mercedes-Benz double-master measuring 35 meters (115 feet) in length and serves as one of the world’s largest and most versatile expedition sailboats. The hull is made from recyclable aluminum.

The first group of Young Explorers joined Mike in Antarctica in January of 2009, the second group in New Zealand in May of the same year. In 2010, Mike Horn and three groups of Young Explorers traveled to Malaysia, India and the Himalayas, respectively. This year, the three more expeditions pushed off to Mongolia, Kamchatka and the Magnetic North Pole.

Mike Horn and his team are always searching for high school pupils or college students who would be interested in joining him on the next phase of this program.

If selected, the young explorers are flown out at the expedition’s expense to to join Pangaea for two week period. When they return to their communities full of knowledge regarding endemic obstacles and possible solutions, they are expected to bear responsibility in sharing the message with their local communities and peers.

Potential candidates who apply to join Mike Horn’s Pangaea Expedition will be invited to visit Chateau d’Oex, Switzerland — Mike Horn World Headquarters — in the Swiss Alps for a training and selection camp, costs for which will also be paid by the expedition. This includes intensive courses on the technological, environmental, physical, medical and communication skills required to prepare the participants to meet the challenges of the expedition. All workshops and outings are run by experienced and professional instructors. The tasks included map work, sailing, paragliding, physical tests, glacier walking, climbing and abseiling.

For more information on Mike Horn and the Pangaea project, please visit www.mikehorn.com.

Helly Hansen Ask CIS Sailing Jacket

The Helly Hansen Ask CIS Sailing Jacket blends Helly's trademark all-weather performance with a unique urban design

If you live anywhere where you experience four seasons and you’re anything like me, April has to be one of your favorite months.  Winter is finally over, the snow has dissipated, and you can put away your cold weather gear in favor of some lighter spring fare.  I love the spring, and of all the seasons, I probably splurge more on my spring wardrobe than any other season.  This year, one of the ways I splurged was on a new jacket, and after picking up a Helly Hansen Salt jacket last year and loving it, I went back to Helly Hansen looking for spring jacket to add to my collection.

If you remember from my last story, Helly Hansen is a performance-driven brand that dates back to 1877, when a Norwegian captain by the name of Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margarethe invented the world’s first waterproof fabric in the form of oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil.  For the last century, Helly Hansen has continued this innovation, introducing a wide variety of cutting edge material technology in their outerwear including the first fleece mid layers in the 1960s and LIFA, the first technical base layer in the 1970s, with their three-layer system becoming the industry standard for keeping you dry, warm and comfortable in even the most demanding conditions.

In opting for a new Helly Hansen jacket, it was this performance that drew me back to the brand, but because I already own the Salt, which notes a distinctly sporty, nautical design, I wanted something a little more urban.  My choice:  the Helly Hansen Ask CIS Sailing Jacket.  It’s a stylish, functional jacket that, while still paying homage to its seafaring past, is at home in virtually any environment.

Constructed from herringbone PU-coated cotton, the Ask CIS Sailing Jacket features a classic design, with a distinctly high collar, rib-hemmed cuffs and waistband, and antique metal fasteners.  It’s a great design for spring, as the high collar helps keep the cold and water out on the rainy days, but unzipped, it stays out of your way and doesn’t get hot or uncomfortable.  The Ask CIS Sailing is also the perfect weight for spring – heavy enough to keep you warm, even over a t-shirt, but not too heavy to the point you get hot.  Even better, you can remove the inner  lining for warmer, wet days, transforming the Ask CIS into a weatherproof shell.  For anyone living in an area with fluctuating spring temps and varying precipitation, it’s the perfect addition to your spring collection.

Pricing for the Helly Hansen Ask CIS Sailing Jacket is $500, and it’s available in either navy or white.  I personally opted for the white, which I love, but the navy looks equally as good.  You really can’t go wrong with either.  To learn more about the Helly Hansen Ask CIS Sailing Jacket, head over to the official Helly Hansen website for more details and ordering info, and you can check out photos of the Ask CIS Sailing Jacket in the gallery below.

SALT Vargas Sunglasses

SALT Vargas sunglasses offer an incredibly comfortable, modernized take on the classic aviator design

Wrapping up our three-day lifestyle sailing feature, we’ve got a look at a product that, as with our other sailing gear, is at home off the boat as much as it is on.  The product to which I’m referring is a pair of SALT. Optics Vargas sunglasses – sunglasses that to date are hands down the best pair of aviators I’ve ever owned.  And believe me, I’ve owned plenty.

But before I tell you why I love the SALT. Vargas sunglasses, let me tell you a bit about SALT. Optics themselves.  Founded in 2006 and located in beautiful coastal southern California, SALT. has set out to provide the world with an alternative to the mass-produced optics of conglomerates and licensed brands.  Their optics are built on the principles of simple, timeless design; impeccable quality; useful technology; hand-craftsmanship; and a pure fit.  Is this a beautifully written mission statement?  Absolutely.  But SALT. delivers.  Their sunglasses are among the most comfortable I’ve ever worn; they look great; and SALT.’s polarized lenses give me seemingly superhero-like vision they’re so clear.

But back to the SALT. Vargas.  I own sunglasses in seemingly all shapes and sizes, but my favorite all-around style has to be the aviator.  They’re just a classic, beautiful all-around design.  They can be worn anywhere, for virtually any activity, and when spending time out on the water, they’re my go-to sunglasses.  The SALT. Vargas takes the classic aviator design and subtly streamlines it.  The lenses are just a touch shorter than some of the other aviators I own, and they’re contoured to wrap ever so slightly around your face.  The result is a more tailored aviator that despite its more modern character, retains the classic aviator styling – and they look fantastic.

Another endearing feature of the SALT. Vargas is the comfort.  In fact, this may very well be the defining attribute of both the SALT. Vargas and SALT. Optics as a whole.  SALT. are incredibly, incredibly comfortable.  I can’t tell you how many pairs of sunglasses I own that just don’t fit right.  They’re either too loose in an area, too tight, or there’s some part of them that after wearing them for a day, becomes an annoyance.  With SALT., the fit is absolutely perfect.  I can wear the SALT. Vargas all day and be completely comfortable.  They offer the perfect level of security, so when I’m on the boat or doing anything else with a high activity level, I don’t have to worry the SALT.’s are going to slip off.  But they’re not too tight either, so there’s not the feeling after wearing them for a few hours you need to take them off to give your aching temples a break.  The fit truly is superb.

Of course, when selecting sunglasses, the main goal is to protect your eyes, which is where quality lenses become vital.  All SALT. Optics feature PFV (prism-free vision) polarized technology.  If you’re unfamiliar with a prism in sunglasses, it’s when the optical center of a lens is cut and placed somewhere other than directly over the pupil.  Unless prescribed by a doctor, this causes a pulling effect on the eye and leads to distortion, both of which you don’t want.  All SALT. Optics utilize a prism-free design, meaning the optical center is always placed directly over your pupil.  As a result, you gain distortion free clarity, greater color contrast and maximum eye comfort.  In addition, all SALT. lenses are polarized, meaning glare is greatly reduced, colors are more vibrant and details are sharper.  Most importantly, 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays are blocked, both of which cause irritation of the cornea and have been linked to cataracts.

As for colors, the SALT. Vargas comes in your choice of four color combinations:  a Honey Gold frame with grey lenses, a Silver frame with grey gradient lenses, a Honey Gold frame with brown gradient lenses, and a Gun Metal frame with grey gradient lenses.  If you’re unsure which option to go with, grey lenses are a great all-around choice for sunny days, as they reduce visible light and glare.  Brown lenses serve to reduce blue light and also work great in sunny conditions, and they also serve to improve both depth perception and contrast.  I own the SALT. Vargas with brown gradient and grey gradient lenses, and you really can’t go wrong with either, as they’re both fantastic lenses to look through.  If I had to pick, I’d probably go with the brown gradient lenses, but that’s based on personal preference as opposed to the light filtering abilities of the lens.  Whichever route you take, you’ll be completely happy with the SALT.’s, as they’re truly phenomenal sunglasses.  The fit is incredible; their style is classic; and most importantly, they filter out impeccably the light you don’t want.  They may very well be the perfect pair of aviators.

Pricing for the SALT. Vargas is set at $390 for each, and all can be ordered directly from the official SALT. Optics shopping website.

Helly Hansen Salt Jacket

The Helly Hansen Salt Jacket is a beautifully functional piece of outerwear that looks great on and off the boat

In the world of sailing, quality outwear is a must.  It protects you from the sea; it keeps you warm amidst cold conditions; yet it must remain breathable, so that when your activity level rises, you don’t overheat.  There’s few that manage to find this delicate balance of dryness, warmth and breathability as well as Helly Hansen.  They’ve been creating exceptionally functional clothing for over a century, and today, they’re a leader in the world of sailing, skiing and outdoor gear.

If you’re unfamiliar with Helly Hansen, the company’s story started back in 1877.  A Norwegian captain by the name of Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margarethe began producing oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins, made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil.  Over the next five years the pair sold approximately 10,000 pieces, and Helly Hansen was born.  Since then, Helly Hansen has focused on developing innovative solutions to meet the most demanding of applications.  In 1949, Helly Hansen introduced the Helox, a thin sheet of translucent PVC plastic sewn into waterproof coats, that replaced the oilbased outerwear of the time.  Twelve years later, the company introduced the original fleece – the fiberpile – that’s warm, lightweight and fast-drying, ideal for wearing under the outer protective layer.  In the 1970’s, Helly Hansen introduced LIFA – a new fiber that keeps the skin dry and warm by pushing moisture away from the body, thus making it the ideal baselayer fabric for outdoor and workwear use.  And in 1980, Helly Tech technology was launched, making use of both hydrophilic and microporous technology to ensure Helly Hansen gear is both waterproof and breathable.  Combining these developments into a single piece, Helly Hansen has mastered the art of layering, and they’ve created a variety of outerwear in both 2-Layer and 3-Layer Systems.  It’s all about keeping you dry, warm and comfortable, regardless of the conditions around you, and it works exceptionally well.

For the sailing enthusiast, the Helly Hansen Salt Jacket ($200) is a fantastic option both on the boat and off.  Construction wise, the Helly Hansen Salt features the ingenious HellyTech technology the company is known for.  A water proof rating of 5,000 mm and a breathability rating 5,000 g make the Salt Jacket an ideal choice for a brisk day out on the boat, while its two-layer construction with protective coastal collar, tonal fully adjustable hood, water resistant front zip and PU inner cuffs all serve to keep you dry despite inclement conditions.  Other features of the Helly Hansen Salt include 360 degree reflective elements, hand warmer pockets, Polartec fleece in the collar and pockets, a kill cord D-ring and a one hand adjustable hem.  Best of all, despite its supreme functionality, the Helly Hansen Salt Jacket looks great, and is really at home off the boat as much as it is sailing.

As already noted, the price of the Helly Hansen Salt Jacket is $200, which makes it an incredible buy for what you’re getting.  It’s available in red, water blue or navy (I’ve got the red), and it can be ordered directly from the Helly Hansen website.

Sperry ASV Classic and ASV Athletic Boat Shoes

Sperry ASV Classic Athletic boat shoes manage to blend Sperry style with excellent comfort and vibration dampening technologies

With the Mercedes-Benz Sailing Cup having just wrapped up, we thought we’d turn our attention momentarily to the world of sailing and some of the style that goes along with it.  Whether you’re the captain of a new 43 foot Beneteau or just want to look like you are, summer’s the perfect time to add a dash of sailing into your everyday life.  And one of the most used and easiest elements to add into your sailing style is your footwear.  Boat shoes look great with almost anything; they’re exceptionally comfortable; and if you have a boat, they’re extremely functional, as they drastically increase your traction on what can be very slippery surfaces.  In the world of boating shoes, it goes without saying that we need to feature Sperry Top-Sider – I mean, they practically invented boat shoes.  I take that back – they did invent boat shoes.

In the 1930’s, amidst a cold Connecticut winter, a Captain by the name of Paul Sperry noticed that his dog Prince was able to maintain a surprising level of grip when running on icy conditions.  Observing the cocker spaniel’s paws, Sperry discovered it was the hundreds of tiny cracks and cuts going in various directions that allowed him to maintain this grip.  Applying his newfound discovery to his own footwear, Sperry used a pen knife to cut siping into the outsole of a rubber sneaker, and the world’s first boat shoe was born.  It’s this design of wave-like grooves that were instrumental in the success of the Authentic Original Sperry Top-Sider introduced back in 1935, and it’s also the inspiration for Sperry’s latest patent, called Razor-Siping, that’s being utilized today.

In selecting which Sperry Top-Siders to feature, truth be told, we really could have picked any.  They all look fantastic, and the Sperry Authentic Originals are one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable shoes in the world (of all the shoes I own, they’re easily one of my favorites).  But rather than opting for the more conventional Classic Boat Shoes that you’re already familiar with, we instead wanted to draw attention feature a pair of Sperry Top-Siders from their Performance line.  What is the Sperry Performance Line you ask?  Simply put, it’s a range of boat shoes that blends classic Sperry style with industry leading comfort and traction.

It’s an offense we’re all guilty of it – we’ve worn athletic shoes on a boat for their vibration dampening abilities, but in doing so, we’ve given up traction.  And that’s the compromise Sperry Performance boat shoes address.  While they offer superb levels of vibration damping technology, the Performance line maintains the patented siping that’s made Sperry famous.  Traction remains excellent; comfort remains better than that of your favorite athletic shoes; and they look great.  Of course, you don’t need to be on a boat to enjoy the Sperry Performance shoes – they’re equally as comfortable on land.  Wherever you’re using them, here’s a pair of our favorites from the Sperry Performance line that you’re going to love.

Men’s ASV Classic Boat Shoe ($140)

For the gentlemen, the must-have shoes in the Sperry Performance line are the Men’s ASV Classic boat shoes.  The classic styling looks great anywhere, and functionally, they may very well be the best boat shoes money can buy.  They’re exceptionally comfortable when spending a day at sea; they’re supremely easy to clean; and they’re engineered extremely well.  To be honest, after owning a pair, there’s nothing I can find fault with.  Some of the technologies that make the Sperry Men’s ASV Classic boat shoes so great include:

  • Proprietary ASV Technology with Ant-Shock and Vibration Properties (helps reduce shock forces up to 40%)
  • Superior Traction through Hydro-Grip™ Rubber for Better Footing
  • Enhanced Agility with Unique Upper Designed for Improved Flexibility
  • Quick Drying Materials for Low Water Absorption
  • Internal Drainage to Remove Water from Around the Foot for Better Comfort
  • Anti-Microbial Linings Protect Against Bacteria that Cause Odor
  • Non-Marking, Rubber Outsole with Wave-Siping™ for Ultimate Wet / Dry Traction

Women’s ASV Athletic Boat Shoe ($130)

From a technical standpoint, the Sperry Women’s ASV Classic boat shoe is virtually identical to the Men’s ASV Classic boat shoe.  Both feature Sperry’s ASV anti-shock and anti-vibration technology, both feature Hydro-Grip rubber footing, and both feature a non-marking rubber outsole with Wave-Siping.  Where the two differ is styling.  While the Men’s ASV Classic features the more classic Sperry look, the Women’s ASV notes a more modern, sporty look.  They look great on a boat, but honestly, my wife (who loves athletic footwear) wears them everywhere, as they’ve become one of favorite pairs of shoes.  As with the Sperry Men’s ASV Classic boat shoes, technologies on the Sperry Women’s ASV Athletic boat shoes include:

  • Proprietary ASV Technology with Anti-Shock and Vibration Properties (helps reduce shock forces up to 40%)
  • Superior Traction through Hydro-Grip™ Rubber for Better Footing
  • Enhanced Agility with Unique Upper Designed for Improved Flexibility
  • Quick Drying Materials for Low Water Absorption
  • Internal Drainage to Remove Water from Around the Foot for Better Comfort
  • Anti-Microbial Linings Protect Against Bacteria that Cause Odor
  • Non-Marking, Rubber Outsole with Wave-Siping™ for Ultimate Wet / Dry Traction

If you’d like to learn more about Sperry Top-Sider, you can find their full range of range of boat shoes at the official Sperry website.  I love my Sperry Authentic Originals and my ASV Classics, and as I said earlier, you really can’t go wrong with any Sperrys.  They invented the boat shoe, and 75 years later, they’re still the best.