Pennicott Circumnavigation for Polio
27-May-2011 | On Tuesday, 31 May 2011, Tasmanian entrepreneur Robert Pennicott will be departing for an epic journey entitled “Follow the Yellow Boat Road”, when he circumnavigates Australia in a 5.4m inflatable yellow dinghy to raise funds for Polio eradication.
His aim is to raise the additional $39 million needed by Rotary International to hit the $200 million benchmark, to which Bill Gates has pledged to contribute $355 million more. The grand total of $555 million is anticipated to lead to the total worldwide eradication of polio, with a donation of just $10 vaccinating 17 children.A passionate mariner and conservationist, Robert, who is also the founder of award-winning, Tasmanian eco-cruise business Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, was keen to commit his skills to the worthy cause. Funds will be raised via an online auction of up to four coveted seats on each leg of the voyage. Online donations will also be accepted at www.followtheyellowboatroad.com. “Follow the Yellow Boat Road” will be one of the biggest fundraising efforts ever undertaken in Australia.
“In my lifetime, I hope to make a substantial difference to the world,” Robert said. “I have dreams to give away a lot more money than what I do now, so I have come up with an idea that will make me the catalyst to hopefully raising many millions of dollars.”
“Follow the Yellow Boat Road” will see Robert circumnavigate Australia in an anti-clockwise direction from Sydney to Sydney, on a voyage that is expected to take approximately 75 days and cover 12,000 nautical miles. Accompanying him on an identical 5.4m Naiad rib vessel will be Mike Souter, the Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Operations Manager, who is equally as skilled and inspired for the journey. Two seats per boat will be auctioned via the website www.followtheyellowboatroad.com to the highest bidder on 48 of the expeditions 77 segments, with all funds raised going towards the cause. 92 per cent of the funds will be donated to Rotary International’s Polio Plus campaign, and 8 per cent will be donated to the Pennicott Foundation, which will undertake island and coastal restoration projects in Australia and around the world. The Pennicott Wilderness Journeys was instrumental in eradicating the population of feral cats on Tasman Island that were responsible for killing over 50,000 seabirds per year.
The itinerary has been planned to allow time for the passengers on each of the 48 segments to explore the impressive scenery and spectacular wildlife along the Australian coastline. Robert expects to encounter several whale varieties, dolphins, seals, sharks, crocodiles, dugongs, hundreds of sea birds and spectacular caves, blowholes, sea cliffs, varying geology and dramatic rock formations. He also intends to voyage into very remote areas, including a day dedicated to exploring the ‘Head of the Bight’ where approximately 100 Southern Right Whales and their calves gather – an occurrence rarely seen from the water given its distance from any boat access point. Robert and Mick, with over 70 years experience on the water, will provide an exclusive, unforgettable, moneycan’t- buy experience for their passengers.
For more information on Follow the Yellow Boat Road including donations, sponsorship opportunities and the full itinerary, visit www.followtheyellowboatroad.com.
Robert Pennicott
Robert started his first business as a fisherman in the pristine waters of southern Tasmania, before creating Bruny Island Cruises in 1999 out of a desire to show people the rugged beauty of the Bruny Island coast. His passion and enthusiasm for the business has seen it evolve into a world-class ecotourism experience, which has won numerous awards and accolades for his conservation and sustainability efforts, and business excellence.
In May 2011, Robert launched his own foundation, the Pennicott Foundation, which allows his business to directly contribute to its own nature conservation projects.
Contact
For more information, please contact Andrew Hennessy at Pennicott Wilderness Journeys.
Email: andrew@pennicottjourneys.com.au
Phone: (03) 6234 4270
Share
Follow
Go Back | Top | More News