Intrepid explorers are setting off on a one-and-a-half-year adventure, sailing from Mersea to New Zealand studying coral reefs on the way.
Well prepared - Paul Kingston and Lily Kozmian-Ledward get ready for their trip of a lifetime. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN
West Mersea resident Paul Kingston, 22, and his friends Lily Kozmian-Ledward, 24, and her father Peter Ledward, 62, have been busy putting finishing touches to their yacht Amadis before setting off tomorrow.
They will be travelling 13-14,000 miles across the world studying the condition of reefs in remote areas of the Caribbean and South Pacific, which have been damaged by contact with humans, as well as those which are harder to reach and have suffered less damage.
They aim to increase people's understanding of the environmental problems facing corals worldwide and will be working with conservation organisation Reef Check.
Paul said: "Lily and I have both finished university and we have decided to combine our love of sailing and our love of the environment.
"We are keen surfers and sailors."
Paul studied international relations at Aberystwyth University and Lily studied marine biology there. They have spent the past year planning their trip.
Their itinerary takes in the Windward Islands, Galapagos, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji before reaching New Zealand in December 2005.
Published Friday August 6, 2004
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