Born into
a family of longtime boat builders and inspired by his
father's Air Force career, Reid has been challenging the
seas with lengthy voyages since age 19, when he first sailed
from Hawaii to New Zealand in 1971. It was during this time
that he met and was influenced by France's Bernard
Moitessier, the first man to sail nonstop around the world.
Returning from New Zealand, Reid built
a 1400-pound catamaran and ventured for three years across
the Atlantic Ocean and back, then up the Amazon River-all
without benefit of radio, electronics, or motor. In 1976,
brimming with knowledge and confidence, Reid began preparing
for a challenging six-month voyage to the Antarctic. With
the help of family and friends, he designed and built, in a
year and a half, what he terms "the ultimate long distance,
heavy weather sailboat," a 70-foot and 60-ton gaff-rigged
schooner that he named Anne, in honor of his mother. For six
months in 1986, Reid and a crew sailed her to Antarctica,
"·where few boats venture due to the extremely dangerous
conditions.
1000 Days Non-Stop at
Sea Ocean Odyssey
Captain Reid Stowe
and crew are preparing to depart on his 70 ft schooner to
set sail for 1,000 days out of sight of land and leave dry
land longer than anyone ever has. They will not refuel, they
will not re-supply, and they will not pull into any harbor.
When Reid and crew casts off from Pier 63, they will follow
global trade winds from New York to the southern coast of
Africa, past Australia, around the end of South America to
circumnavigate the globe in the southern hemisphere 4 times.
Their return to New York will be the first time they will
even see land in almost three years.
Schooner
Anne, under tan bark sails. Moonrise over the ocean.
