The first vehicles equipped with Transatel’s technology,new and older models of the Jaguar and Land Rover ranges[1], will be available to the market end of June.The two companies recently signed a Master Services Agreement for a global cellular connectivity solution aiming to cover Jaguar Land Rovers’ connectedcar passenger applications: internet browsing and navigation services from the vehicle console, as well as on-board Wi-Fi.
Connectivity provider and technical enabler Transatel will be providing a data plan starting in 2018 for Jaguar and Land Rover models in the UK, Italy, and Germany. Data plan extensions with a selection of local and European plans will be available for selected lines. Transatel will be providing the service, managing customer and retailer relations, providing customer and retailer support, and ensuring the payment process for the purchase of data bundles by end users.
Transatel’s design of the customer journey for this connected car service is the result of over 18 years’ experience in marketing telecom offers to end users in European territories. Clients seamlessly manage their accounts via the selfcare application, accessible with any device using the car’s Wi-Fi. The multi-lingual selfcare application enables account management, user registration and payment method registration, among other features.
Philippe VIGNEAU, VP Business development at Transatel:
“We’re excited to be launching our second European connected car project with such a prestigious and renowned company as Jaguar Land Rover; this time not for telematics, but for passengerapplications. We’ve been evangelizing the market for more than a year now, explaining to car OEMs worldwide how to avoid major lock-in risks and answering their concerns about security, among others. It seems the superiority of our platform and business model has now become apparent to some major players of the automotive industry.”
About Transatel
As the leading European MVNE/A (Mobile Virtual Network Enabler/Aggregator), Transatel has, since its inception in 2000, launched over 150 MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) and built a strong expertise in Machine-to-Machine connectivity, before entering the Internet of Things arena in 2014. Today, the company offers an unparalleled cellular solution for global, multi-local data connectivity with eSIM capabilities for the IoT, addressing the connected car, connected objects, and embedded connectivity markets.
Presents a Decade of World-Renowned Work in “2000s The Exhibition”
Mouche Gallery, Beverly Hills
Beyonce “Dangerously in Love” Album Cover (2003) by Markus Klinko All Rights Reserved 2018
Exhibition Presents June 15 through June 30, 2018
Award-winning fashion, celebrity photographer and directorMarkus Klinko is pleased to present “2000s”, an exclusive exhibition featuring the decade’s most iconic photographic images. The gallery has partnered with FujiFilm and will host several in-gallery artist appearances: Saturday, June 16th from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Saturday June 23rd from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm and Saturday June 30th, 2018 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Mouche Gallery340 N Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.
“For me, this collection goes beyond celebrity photography and more so defines a greater cultural connection. The early 2000’s was a very influential time of fashion, music, and entertainment that we are seeing resurface today. Being able to capture it photographically gives us a window into our past and it how it has helped form our future.” – Markus Klinko
Klinko and his subjects
Throughout the years, Markus Klinko has become one of the most recognizable celebrity photographers across the globe. For his upcoming exhibition, “2000s”, Mouche Gallery has assembled a collection of famous images from his archives. The collection depicts a variety of pop culture milestones that have truly defined the decade of the early 2000’s. Highlighted works include: Beyonce’sDangerously in Love album cover; a series of Mary J. Blige album covers documenting her meteoric rise to superstardom; and images from Klinko’s wildly successful David Bowie Unseen international exhibition. With these works and more to see, Klinko can be credited for capturing some of the most legendary moments in each of his subject’s careers.
David Bowie “Heathen” Album Cover (2002) by Markus Klinko Ó All Rights Reserved 2018
Klinko’s works were recently displayed in a New York Subway station with a large-scale photographic installation and interactive displays celebrating the late, great David Bowie. The installation was unveiled earlier this month and runs until May 13. It coincides with the opening of Bowie Is – an exhibition celebrating the musician’s contribution to popular culture – at the Brooklyn Museum.
The centerpiece of the takeover was an installation that stretched across 30 metal ‘L beams’ and was seen at either end of the station from steps leading down to the platform. It features black-and-white photographs of Bowie as the Thin White Duke – a persona he adopted in the mid- 1970s and taken by Masayoshi Sukita and Markus Klinko.
INSTALLATION NYC SUBWAY 2018
As David Bowie’s and Iman’s photographer for over 15 years, Klinko’s client list reads as a who’s who of Hollywood royalty. Other notable pop culture icons that will be featured in the exhibit include: Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell, Kelis, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West and more.
“Mouche Gallery in Beverly Hills is honored to present this exhibition in collaboration with FUJIFILM North America Corporation, and is thrilled to add Markus Klinko to its prestigious roster of internationally acclaimed photographers. We look forward to continuing the tradition of featuring museum quality art and photographs at the forefront of culture.” – Keiko Noah, Gallerist & Principal: Mouche Gallery
Made possible by FUJIFILM North America Corporation, “2000s” will feature a rare retrospective collection of select cameras and lenses used by Klinko to photograph these images and will be installed at Mouche Gallery. As one of the earliest adopters of digital post-production, Klinko pioneered a style that widely influenced trends in current fashion and celebrity photography. Klinko credits his usage of the FUJIFILM GX680III, a 6x8cm medium format system, in conjunction with FUJICHROME PROVIA 100F for the vibrant palette and exceptionally high resolution of his work. In 2001, Klinko also started shooting with the FUJIFILM FinePix S1 Pro, the early predecessor of the current line of the FUJIFILM X Series and GFX system. A previously unseen series of new images, taken in 2018 with the FUJIFILM GFX medium format mirrorless system, will be unveiled on June 14th, featuring re-emerging signature ’00s staples, connecting his works from past and present. All of Klinko’s works to be featured in “2000’s” were created with FUJIFILM cameras and/or film products.
Given the exhibition’s fashion and celebrity culture focus, thirteen of Klinko’s most celebrated images will be sold via Paddle8 (http://www.paddle8.com/auction/cfda) to benefit the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Foundation to help support its programs dedicated to fashion education and professional development. To learn more about the CFDA, please visit the organization’s website at www.CFDA.com
To learn more about Mouche Gallery and to meet the world-renowned photographer and visit this once-in-a-lifetime Collection: “2000s The Exhibition” in Beverly Hills, please visit Mouche at www.mouchegallery.com.
ALL WORKS ON EXHIBITION & AVAILABLE FOR ACQUISITION
All Images Courtesy of Markus Klinko. All Rights Reserved 2018. For Editorial Usage Only. No Commercial Usage Allowed.
Image: Markus Klinko 2018 Los Angeles
ABOUT MARKUS KLINKO:
Markus Klinko is an award-winning, international fashion/celebrity photographer and director, who has worked with many of today’s most iconic stars of film, music, and fashion.
Klinko has photographed Beyonce, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet, Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell, and Iman. His editorial clients include Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, and Interview. Brands such as Lancôme, L’Oréal Paris, Nike, Hugo Boss, Anna Sui, Pepsi, Skyy Vodka, and Remy Martin have hired Klinko to create advertising campaigns. His campaign for Keep A Child Alive raised over one million dollars for children with AIDS in just 3 days.
Born in Switzerland of French, Italian, Jewish, and Hungarian descent, Klinko spent his early years training to become a classical harp soloist. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. Later, Klinko signed an exclusive recording contract with EMI Classics, as well as a management contract with Columbia Artists Management. He received the Grand Prix de Disque for his recording of French harp music, with members of the orchestra of the Paris Opera Bastille. Klinko performed in recitals and as a featured soloist with symphony orchestras around the world. He was also regularly featured in such publications as Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, GQ, The New York Times, Madame Figaro, Stereo Review, and Ongaku no Tomo.
After a hand injury, Klinko decided to become a fashion photographer and retired from his international concert and recording career. During that time, he met Indrani, who later became a regular collaborator in her role as his studio’s digital post production artist and photo editor.
Isabella Blow discovered Klinko’s work while at the London Sunday Times and commissioned cover stories from the emerging photographer. Around the same time, Ingrid Sischy, at Interview magazine hired Klinko for various shoots. Iman and David Bowie followed, giving the up and coming photographer a chance to photograph them for their respective book (I am Iman) and album covers (Heathen).
From there, he went on to create some of the most iconic album covers of his time, including Beyonce’s Dangerously in Love, and Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi.
Many of Klinko’s famous celebrity photographs can be seen in his coffee table book ICONS (Perseus). Lincoln Center in New York presented an art exhibit showcasing many prints from the book and since, art galleries and museums in Europe (Opera Gallery, Monaco) and the USA (National Portrait Gallery, Washington) have featured his work.
Did you know that the daily pill that saves your life if you’re living with HIV costs just 20 cents a day in sub-Saharan Africa? Highlighting the impact that just 20¢ can have on someone’s life, the new EAT (RED) SAVE LIVES PSA, featuring Martha Stewart, Padma Lakshmi, Elizabeth Falkner, Hannah Bronfman, Angie Mar, Dana Cowin and Hong Thaimee,reminds food fans worldwide the power of what two dimes can buy when you choose to EAT (RED) this June.
(RED)’s fifth annual culinary campaign features an exciting line-up of chefs, food and drink activations, dining experiences and products to turn people’s food and drink choice into a force to fight AIDS, by raising money and awareness for the Global Fund. There are so many ways for food fans worldwide to get involved June…
Eat out at restaurants like Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizzawhere you can order the (RED) VINE Pizza at more than 260 of its locations across the U.S, donating $1 for every order of a (RED) Vine and a Coke, up to $50,000.
Order in from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams who will offer a special (RED) Collectionfor the month of June. Featuring five lovingly made flavors – Coffee with Cream & Sugar, Goat Cheese with Red Cherries, Ricotta Toast with Red Berry Geranium Jam, Ndali Estate Vanilla and dairy-free Dark Chocolate Truffle – delivered straight to your doorstep, each purchase will generate $6 to fight
Attend a PlaceInvaders series of intimate pop-up events in New Yorkand Los Angeles. Hosted in secret residential properties, each brunch and dinner seating will feature menus by NYC- and LA-based chefs including Angie Mar (The Beatrice Inn), Patti Jackson(Delaware & Hudson), Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson (Kismet and Mad Capra), Jessica Koslow(Sqirl) andMei Lin(Nightshade). Tickets include five courses, (BELVEDERE)REDcocktails, and Josh Cellars wine, and are priced between $120-$150, with $18 from every ticket sold going to fight AIDS – enough to provide 90 days of life-saving medication.
Expressive design with new Singleframe and features from the original Audi quattro
Generous, elegant interior, touch operating concept and high-tech navigation
All-wheel steering and quattro drive for agile handling and best traction
Ingolstadt/Shenzhen, June 5, 2018 – The Audi Q8 combines the elegance of a four-door luxury coupé with the practical versatility of a large SUV. Richly equipped, comprehensively connected and tough enough for off-road duty, it is a confident companion for business and leisure. The Audi Q8 launches on the European market in the third quarter of 2018.
Champion celebrates the launch of a limited-edition capsule collection, Carrots University by Champion, in partnership with Carrots by Anwar Carrots, sold exclusively at the Champion Los Angeles store beginning on June 8th and available on Champion.com on June 19th.
The authentic apparel brand has teamed up with Anwar “Carrots” Washington because of the designer’s dynamic approach to aesthetic both in his personal style and creative output, which mirrors Champion’s own vision. The collection showcases collegiate-inspired products on Champion College Apparel, and Anwar’s aspiration of creating his own University is shown through Carrots branding and identity.
Champion selected their new Los Angeles retail store in the La Brea District to launch the Carrots University by Champion collection as Anwar has become an entrepreneurial leader of the next generation of Los Angeles creatives and fashion icons through street culture and music.
Anwar will be kicking off this collaboration with an in-store appearance and celebration at the Champion Los Angeles store on June 7th from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. PST. Light bites and LA Press beverages will be served during the sneak peak of the collection.
Complimentary customization will be available in-store for any Carrots University by Champion purchases all day on June 8th, with an appearance from Anwar himself between 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. PST, who will help consumers add their own unique touch to the limited edition pieces.
New York, NY, June 5, 2018 —On Monday night, the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) honored Frédéric Fekkai, renowned stylist and founder of Fekkai and more recently founder and CEO of the natural beauty line Bastide with the fifth annual Art de Vivre Award. Martha Stewart, a close friend and long-time client of the honoree, presented Fekkai with a Lalique Mossi vase during a cocktail reception at FIAF’s Le Skyroom. An elegant dinner for 120 guests followed at the French restaurant Le Bilboquet.
Bringing with her a 1991 issue of Martha Stewart Living, featuring her new Fekkai haircut on the cover, Stewart recalled her several decades-long relationship with the honoree: “Frederic knows how to transform, and that was his talent. He took an ordinary woman, and he knew how to make her into something very special, and he still does. That’s his charm, that’s his talent, and his entrepreneurial spirit behind that is what really appealed to me and the legions of women who have let him cut his hair.”
FIAF President Marie-Monique Steckel remarked, “Frédéric has been the hair guru in New York for decades, he also has his acclaimed Frédéric Fekkai beauty salon, and he has really shaped the beauty landscape all over America. Recently he has embarked on a new adventure, Bastide, his latest luxurious natural beauty and lifestyle brand. And tonight we are really honored to have Martha Stewart, guru of American lifestyle, to present the Art de Vivre award to Frédéric.”
FIAF’s Art de Vivre Award, established in 2014, recognizes influential leaders from the food, wine, beauty, and fashion industries for their outstanding contributions to the promotion of the French art of living. Previous honorees include Elizabeth Holder Raberin and Pierre-Antoine Raberin of Ladurée USA; Frédéric Malle, Founder & CEO of Editions de Parfum Frédéric Malle; Martine and Prosper Assouline, co-founders of Assouline Publishing; and Carine Roitfield, Global Fashion Director of Harper’s BAZAAR. This spring, the award honors Frédéric Fekkai as ambassador of the French art de vivre and beauty and well-being throughout the world.
The Art de Vivre Award reception and dinner raises funds to support FIAF’s mission to teach French, promote Francophone culture, and strengthen the relationship between the French and American peoples.
Sky Katz is an American actress, composer, and rapper known for her role as Tess on Disney Channel’sRaven’s Home. She was once an America’s Got Talent contestant during season 11 (2006), where she stunned the audience with her impressive rapping skills and freestyle, performing her singles “Fresh” and “Haters.”
Sky has been influenced by many rappers from different generations and styles. She is the youngest member in her family of four children. When she is not acting or recording in the studio, she loves playing basketball and spending quality time with her friends and family.
Los Angeles (June 5, 2018) – The voice cast for Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM) animated feature The Addams Family is set, it was announced today by Jonathan Glickman, MGM’s President, Motion Picture Group. Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs. Aliens, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted) and Greg Tiernan (Thomas & Friends, Day of the Diesels) direct a voice cast led by Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Annihilation) as Gomez Addams, Academy Award winner Charlize Theron (Atomic Blonde, Mad Max: Fury Road) as Morticia Addams, Chloë Grace Moretz (The Miseducation of Cameron Post, If I Stay) as Wednesday Addams, Finn Wolfhard (It, Netflix’s Stranger Things) as Pugsley Addams, Nick Kroll (Big Mouth, Sing) as Uncle Fester, Bette Midler (Hocus Pocus, Beaches) as Grandmama and Academy Award winner Allison Janney (I, Tonya) as the family’s arch nemesis Margaux Needler.
Vernon and Tiernan co-direct from Matt Lieberman’s screenplay based on the Charles Addams’ iconic cartoon series. The film will be produced by Vernon with Gail Berman, via her shingle The Jackal Group, and Alex Schwartz. It will be executive produced by Andrew Mittman, Kevin Miserocchi and Joe Earley. Tabitha Shick, MGM’s Executive Director, Worldwide Motion Pictures is overseeing the project on behalf of the studio. CG Animation and digital visual effects production is underway in Vancouver at Cinesite Studios, one of the world’s most highly respected independent digital entertainment companies.
Based on the famous New Yorker creations of Charles Addams, this animated action-comedy will follow the Addams family whose lives begin to unravel when they face-off against a crafty reality-TV host while also preparing for their extended family to arrive for a major celebration, Addams-style.
Vernon said, “Greg and I have always been a fan of the Addams Family in past versions, so when we set out to make this movie, we were excited to do something new. With that in mind, I drew from the brilliantly original Charles Addams New Yorker cartoons for the look of the film and decided to tell the story of how Gomez and Morticia meet, find their house and start their family. This unique approach is what drew me in to direct the film. The reimagining also extends to the stellar cast we’ve put together who will each bring their own spin to our film that will appeal to longtime fans of the Addams and introduce them to a new generation.”
“Conrad and Greg are masters of animation with the keen ability to create something both kids and their parents will enjoy for different reasons. Adding to that a world class caliber of talent with Oscar, Charlize, Chloë, Finn, Nick, Bette and Allison – we can’t wait to bring their fresh and modern take on The Addams Family to the worldwide audience,” said Glickman.
Morticia, devilishly devoted to her husband and children, is the pale glue that holds her clan together. Gomez, debonair, sinister and passionately in love with his wife, is enthusiastic about whatever dreadful scheme he’s cooked up. Wednesday is a brilliant and sinister teenage girl with long braids and dead-pan wit. Pugsley, a menacing 10 year old on over-drive, enjoys getting into any kind of dreadful mischief he can find. Mad Uncle Fester is good natured, merry and likes to create mayhem any way he can. Grandmama is smitten with her grandchildren who enjoy her cookies shaped like bats and skulls. Margaux Needler, the reality TV makeover queen, is consumed with a desire for absolute suburban, pastel perfection.
The Addams Family are a satirical inversion of the ideal American family; an eccentric, wealthy clan who delight in the macabre and are unaware that people find them bizarre or frightening. They originally appeared as an unrelated group of 150 single panel cartoons by Addams, about half of which were originally published in The New Yorker between debuting in 1938 and Addams’ 1988 death. They have since been adapted to other media, including the well-known television series, a series of live-action films, and most recently a Broadway musical.
MGM’s upcoming slate includes the Operation Finale, directed by Chris Weitz and starring Golden Globe Winner Oscar Isaac and Academy Award Winner Ben Kingsley, will release on September 21, 2018; Creed II, a continuation of the Rocky saga, starring Golden Globe Winner and Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan, will be released in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures on November 21, 2018; thriller The Girl In the Spider’s Web, based on the global bestseller by David Lagercrantz, with Sony Pictures starring Emmy Award nominee Claire Foy, in theaters November 9, 2018; Fighting with my Family, a comedy-drama written and directed by Stephen Merchant, based on the true personal story of WWE Superstar PaigeTM and her family of professional wrestlers, starring Florence Pugh, Vince Vaughn and Dwayne Johnson, on March 1, 2019; The Hustle, a hilarious new comedy about two female scam artists, one low rent and the other high class, who compete to swindle a naive tech billionaire out of his fortune starring Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, will release in theaters on May 10,2019; the feature adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s best-selling novel The Sun Is Also A Star with Warner Bros. Pictures, directed by Ry Russo-Young and starring Yara Shahidi, in theaters on May 17, 2019.
About Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content across all platforms. The company owns one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content as well as the premium pay television network EPIX, which is available throughout the U.S. via cable, satellite, telco and digital distributors. In addition, MGM has investments in numerous other television channels, digital platforms and interactive ventures and is producing premium short-form content for distribution. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.
The Addams Family will be distributed theatrically in the U.S. by MGM on October 11, 2019.
Spaniard let loose behind the wheel in Formula 1 machinery at Red Bull Ring.
Marc Márquezhas already beaten all and sundry on two wheels but today switched to four wheels and aFormula 1car for a new speed experience on the track.
Marquez was given the opportunity to switch from his Repsol Honda bike to an STR F1 car.
The Spaniard drove for a few hours at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix there later this season.
He first underwent a series of laps in the simulator before getting onto the track for the test run.
Hooked after just a few laps, he said: “It was always my dream to race the quickest cars in the world. I had great respect for it ahead of today, and I didn’t sleep well. In the end it was an unbelievable experience, and an absolute highlight of my career. There is a massive difference toMotoGP. The limited visibility was a great challenge, in particular, to begin with. You feel a lot more constricted in the cockpit. The braking distances and timing in turns is completely different. AFormula 1car has much more downforce, of course, which made for a lot of fun in the part of the circuit with the most turns, in particular.”
And does he see a career in four-wheel racing in the future? Marquez said: “My complete focus in the coming years will remain onMotoGP. I’m part of a fantastic team, and I feel fully motivated. Who knows though, maybeFormula 1will be a serious idea for me in a few years’ time!”
The 25-year-old had a litany of F1 big hitters to put him through his paces with the likes of three-time world championNiki Lauda, eight-time grand prix winnerMark Webberand Red Bull motorsport bossHelmut Markowatching from the stands.
Webber said: “He was really quiet still at breakfast. As soon as he got into the cockpit, he was 100 per cent focused and delivered a top performance on the race track.Formula 1andMotoGPare two completely different things. Marc made my job as an instructor very easy though. He always asked the right questions and improved lap by lap.”
Marko said: “To put that kind of performance in within such a short time says everything about his huge talent. In the coming years he is going to break a lot more records inMotoGP. Maybe after that,Formula 1will actually be a possibility. Up to now only a few exceptional talents, such as John Surtees, have managed to compete in both racing series. Marc also has what it takes. Today definitely wasn’t the last time he will sit in aFormula 1car.”
Already Marquez is sixth on the list of all-time grand prix motorcycle race wins with a tally of 64 from 125cc up toMotoGPitself.
He currently leads the 2018 standings with three wins from the first six races.
OtherMotoGPrivals have taken to an F1 car in the past, notablyValentino Rossiwith Ferrari andJorge Lorenzofor Mercedes, whileFernando Alonsomade the switch in the other direction to test Marquez’s 2015 bike.
He set off on June 1 and is swimming on average six hours at a time in a clockwise direction, and will not touch shore until arriving at London’s Tower Bridge in an estimated 100 days.
Here’s what the epic voyage takes in his own words…
‘Swimming the Channel on a daily basis’
“It’s the equivalent of swimming the English Channel every day. But I know my body can take it. I know I can be the first person in history to achieve it.”
‘Unfinished business from the Caribbean’
“Earlier this year, I attempted to swim from Martinique to St Lucia while tied to a tree. I’d aimed to swim 40km point to point but the current was totally against me and kept dragging me back. Even though I didn’t reach the shore, I actually swam over 100km in the end. While the athlete in me was happy with that, the adventurer in me had unfinished business. So, I phoned up the Royal Marines when I returned to the UK and asked if I could swim for 48 hours straight, just to see what I’ve got in the locker. The swim went really well and I hit 126km. One of the Marines mentioned the idea of swimming around the entirety of Britain – something that’s never been done before – and I thought, ‘why not?’”
‘Around Great Britain in 100 days’
“By looking at my swim metrics and comparing them to people who’d rowed around the entirety of Great Britain, I was able to estimate 100 days as a target. Oddly enough, in very bad conditions, my open water swimming times are the same as those of the rowers. A friend of mine named Sean Conway once swam the length of Great Britain in 135 days. I’m looking to do more than double that distance in less time.”
‘Turning into a prune’
“A lot of experienced open water swimmers have told me that my skin will eventually reject being in salt water for such a long time. I got a taste of this during my 48-hour swim with the Marines, where my hands and feet pruned – essentially I got trench foot. What’s more, being in a wetsuit for months on end will probably mean I develop sores. Hopefully these turn to calluses, otherwise the pain could be unbearable under my armpits and parts where the wetsuit rubs. My body’s going to break down at sea, I know that but I must be mentally ready.”
“To do this sort of challenge I need the ability to swim 50km day and night, powering through 3m waves. But if the currents are against me I have no chance. The GB rowing challenge, which follows the same route, is labelled the world’s toughest rowing race on account of the tides, unpredictability and weather. When I told its organisers I’d be swimming it they told me I was crazy. “If you get it wrong around The Highlands you’ve eight knots coming against you,” they said. “So even if you are swimming two to three knots, an Olympic level, you’ll still be going back four knots.” It’s basically going to be a game of chess with Mother Nature – you can swim hard, but you need to swim smart.”
‘A wardrobe of wetsuits’
“We’re doing it in the spirit of open water swimming – no buoyancy aids, gloves only needed during cold periods. The only advantage I’ll have is a collection of swimsuits tailored for estimated weight loss, ranging from full Ross, to emaciated Ross 60 or so days in, when I’ll have shifted a few stones. My legs will probably atrophy first. I won’t be using them, they’ll probably shrivel – kicking your legs account for only 10 per cent overall propulsion, even with Olympic swimmers. We’ll also be taking a picture of me each day, so people can see my body’s transformation as I go.”
‘Turning into a five-year-old’
“It’s not a solo mission at all, it’s a team event, and the captain of my boat is going to be my hero. He will plot everything – he has all the tidal maps, all the electronic versions, all over the boat. I’ll also be plotting where I am on a map every day to boost morale. When you’re out at sea and all you can see is the bottom of the sea bed, it’s very easy to lose track of where you are. So it’ll be nice to clamber back on the boat and see that I’ve made progress. Ultimately, when you’re fatigued you have the cognitive function of a 5-year-old, so I’ll be like ‘point me in the right direction and let me know when I’ve got to change’.”
‘An anti-jellyfish beard’
“Wildlife is always a danger when you’re isolated in the sea. Giant jellyfish are a particular worry. I won’t shave. Because you’re leading with the head and the face will be most exposed, any protection, like a big beard, will help. I’ll try and grow it so by the time I get up to Scotland it’s fairly rugged. I’ll also encounter sea otters, dolphins and killer whales along the way, which I’m actually looking forward to. It’ll help break things up for me and be an incredible privilege to see.”
