Future Capital chief executive set for Northwest Passage expedition with BEAR GRYLLS

North West Passage Expedition with Bear Grylls from Helga Viegas on Vimeo.

By Emily.perryman

Created 24/08/2010 - 06:06

Tim Levy, chief executive of GBP6bn alternative investment firm Future Capital Partners, is about to embark on a expedition led by Bear Grylls through the Northwest Passage.
Future Capital’s investment partnership Future Fuels, which will fund the construction of a renewable fuel plant in the UK, is sponsoring the expedition.
The 14 day trip will raise awareness of the effect of climate change on the planet and raise money for UK charity Global Angels, providing safe drinking water for thousands of children in Africa.
The expedition through the formerly frozen Northwest Passage will begin on 28 August in Pond Inlet in northernmost Canada. Over the next fortnight the team will navigate a passage through ice flues melted by global warming, before finishing their voyage in Tuktoyaktuk, North West Territories. From start of the expedition to the finish, the team will cover 1,700 nautical miles.
The crew will use a custom made Zodiac rigid inflatable boat, christened Arctic Wolf. The journey will represent the first time that the Northwest Passage, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Arctic, has been attempted in a RIB. In clear water, the Zodiac can reach speeds of up to 40 knots, but the team expect to travel at between speeds of 18 to 38 knots, as they try to avoid the small icebergs strewn across the Northwest Passage.
Levy says: “Businesses can and should do more to look at slowing down the effects of global warming, which is why we are backing this trip. The bio-ethanol plant we are building will have a tangible impact by helping to lower the carbon footprint of British motorists. I am excited at the challenge that awaits us in the Northwest Passage, and I hope that our adventure inspires those in the financial community to take action of their own.”
Grylls adds: “Traversing the Northwest Passage has long been a dream of mine. The severe conditions will make the trip extremely challenging, and navigating a route through the ice is fraught with danger. The mere fact we can make this journey at all is evidence of the effects of global warming, and we’re hoping this trip will emphasise the need for profound and immediate action to counter the effects of climate change.”

To follow the expedition team visit www.fcpnorthwestpassage.com