×

Our award-winning reporting has moved

Context provides news and analysis on three of the world’s most critical issues:

climate change, the impact of technology on society, and inclusive economies.

Round the world on an electric boat: Briton commemorates Magellan

by Reuters
Thursday, 19 November 2020 16:48 GMT

Oceanic navigator Jimmy Cornell, 80, sets sail on a full electric boat from Seville to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the first round-the-world voyage, Spain November 19, 2020. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

Image Caption and Rights Information

When navigator Jimmy Cornell completed his first world voyage he was shocked to witness the destruction caused by climate change. Now he is taking the trip zero carbon

SEVILLE, Spain, Nov 19 (Reuters) - British navigator Jimmy Cornell set sail from Seville in Spain on Thursday to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the first voyage around the world - this time on an electric boat.

Cornell plans to follow the route taken by explorers Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastian Elcano.

The trip "has two dimensions, a historical dimension, because I want to travel the original and historic route, Cornell told reporters.

"But it has another very important dimension for me, which is to protect the environment. This is why it is a fully electric boat with zero emissions."

Cornell completed his first world voyage between 1975 and 1981. After returning to some of the places he had visited, Cornell said he was shocked to witness the destruction caused by climate change, prompting him to take on the zero carbon challenge.

(Reporting by Mariano Valladolid Writing by May Ponzo Editing by Ingrid Melander and Janet Lawrence)

-->