Young explorers’ dream chance

Press, 14 December 1977, Page 8

Young explorers’ dream chance

! NZPA-Reuter London More than 200 young men and women are to be given a chance to take part in a unique two-year, round-the--world expedition starting next year. The expedition is Operation Drake, commanded by the renowned British • explorer Lieutenant-Colonel John Blashford-Snell. I The expedition is nanied after Sir Francis Drake because his circumnavigation of the world — he set off -from Plymouth 400 years ago yesterday — inspired a generation. The youngsters, aged between 17 and 24, will be led in nine staggered groups by a team of experienced explorers and will take part in ambitious projects three years in the planning. They will be chosen from I volunteers mainly from Briti ain, Australia, the United 'States, and Canada, and will, be sponsored by companiesJ lin their own regions. The expeditionaries will! carry out studies of the former Scottish colony at Caledonia Bay, Panama, search for the lost city of Acla, and investigate a wrecked gallleon. They will take part in community projects in Paci-I fic Islands, explore unnavizated rivers, and the world’s survey dense;

jungle in Papua New Guinea, assist undersea research groups in the Red Sea, and take part in many other projects. The expedition, which will have the 150-tonne brigantine Eye of the Wind as a floating base, is organised under the auspices of the Scientific Exploration Society and co-ordinated by I a committee under General Sir John Mogg. with Lieu-tenant-Colonel BlashfordSnell aged 41. as director of operations. The patron of the ex-1 pedition project is Prince Charles, who sent a personal: message of praise and good; luck as the details of the l operation were being unveiled.