American skipper Rich Wilson is getting ready for the start of the Vendee Globe on November 6, racing his Great American IV, an IMOCA Open 60.
But apart from just the grueling experience of sailing solo around the world, Wilson is working to marry his passion for education with exploration. Through a unique partnership with the website sitesalive.com, Wilsom is working to bring school children into the action of the race, partnering with over 50 countries to live-stream the onboard racing using a pre-determined curriculum that includes science, math, geography, and history. Wilson has been making his expeditions available to students since the beginning, putting articles in newspapers and distributing the program to schools, but now, with the partnership with sitesalive.com, Wilson can go global. The sites alive campaign, which was formerly relegated to American countries, is now popular around the world.
Wilson has been sailing all his life, despite a dehabilitating case of asthma as a child, leaving him with only about 70 percent of normal lung capacity. This is considerable when you think of the strength it takes to raise all 400 pounds of his mainsail. Now, at 67, he's the oldest person to start the Vendee Globe, but is certainly one of the most qualified to be sailing in it.
To sign up for the program, visit sitesalive.com, and be ready to follow Rich Wilson around the world.
