The project of the Land-yacht Expedition through the Gobi desert in 2008

The dates: September - October 2008

The project coordinator: Anna Grebieniow,

15 Kilinskiego St., apt.5; 61-531 Poznan; Poland

phone: 0048 605 391 880; e-mail: Ten adres e-mail jest ukrywany przed spamerami, włącz obsługę JavaScript w przeglądarce, by go zobaczyć

The project co-organizer: Światosław Rojewski

phone: 0048 604 426 943

www.mongolia.info.pl

Honourable sponsorship: The Embassy of Mongolia in Poland

The Expedition by Land-yacht through the Gobi desert starts in September 2008.

In September 1978, three Polish sailors overcame by two land-yachts over 800 km of difficult Gobi desert areas in Mongolia. Similar achievements were gained by Frenchmen in Sahara and Russians in Iran in the 70s. Out of two Polish land-yachts, “Gobi 2” returned to Poland and “Gobi 1” remained at The Palace of Technique in Ulan-Bator. The members of the GOBI 2008 expedition intend to follow the pioneering achievement of the Poles, because of the 30th anniversary of their expedition, and cover the distance of over 1600 km of the Gobi desert and Mongolia by land-sailing vehicles land-yachts. One of the

vehicles, used during this expedition, will be the original ancient “Gobi 2”. We are going to construct the second vehicle ourselves thus imitating our predecessors. “The God Father” of the expedition is Mr Wojciech Skarzynski, one

of the pioneers who experienced the journey through the Gobi desert in 1978 it all started because of Him. When he talks about Mongolia, he immediately takes us imaginatively there. At once one can feel the smell of the desert's wind and almost hear the Mongolian horses neighing. In the barn, among the spider webs he stores his ancient land-yacht. It is time to clean the dust of the vehicle and let it cross the desert's tracks again.

The expedition by LAND-YACHTS THROUGH THE GOBI DESERT 2008 is a tribute to the Poles who crossed the Gobi desert in 1978 by their own-made land-yachts. This challenge will be the exact imitation of their expedition (plus additional phase). Their expedition took place in times when it barely seemed possible to fulfil such a dream. They covered the distance of

800 km through the desert by vehicles without any brake! Our main goal is a historical aspect (challenging at the same time):

* For the second time in history, after 30 years and again with the help of Polish expeditors, the land-sailing vehicles will cross the Gobi desert.

* We are also going to record three-dimensional (3D) film, as a report of the

expedition telling us about life of Mongolian Nomads and the nature of the desert.

* We are bringing a portable projector, a screen and 3D glasses. We want to share the

three-dimensional picture along the route - films and slides from Poland. In a few

words "IMAX on the steppe !".

* While passing through hard to reach terrains, we intend to bring CHARITY HELP to

the children of the streets who are being helped by the Salesians in Ulan Bator.

We wish to follow the footsteps of the pioneers from 1978. According to our project we are planning to prolong the distance for another 800 km (totally: 1600 km). This expedition, in majority, will be the exact repetition of the 1978 event. The present expedition will begin in Bugat, then it will go along Altai Mountains, through Bajanondor, and

to the west from Mandalgobi to Ulan-Bator. September 2008 we regard as the starting date of our expedition. We have chosen this time because of the annual weather cycle in Mongolia and length of time we need for preparation.

MEMBERS of the Expedition:

ANNA GREBIENIOW: I'm 30 years old, I'm an ecologist, I've organized and participated in expeditions to Asia, such as: Przewalski's Horse Expedition 1999, Scientific Expedition Panda 2000 (Russia, Mongolia, China, Laos, Kazakhstan by land), Mongolia 2004, Four hooves drive Mongolia 2006. I've also been quite a few times to Europe and Africa. Since few years I've got a sailing licence for a few years so whenever I can - I sail. I'm also interested in traditional and 3D photography.

Functions: the coordinator, the captain of the land-yacht 1

ŚWIATOSŁAW ROJEWSKI:

Functions: the co-coordinator, the captain of the land-yacht 2

BOGUMIL GREBIENIOW:  I'm 24 years old, I'm a student of the 6 year of Medical University in Poznan. I've travelled a lot, I took part in various expeditions: Hitchhiking through Europe, students' expedition Ukraine 2003, Bulgaria 2005, Taiwan ALONE 2006, currently I'm on the annual practice in Taiwan and I'm studying Mandarine language. My hobbies are: tramping tourism, photography, skiing and of course sailing.

Functions:  the captain of the land-yacht 2 the medical protection, the photographer

ANDRZEJ WALUK: I'm 40 years old, I'm interested in a three-dimensional film and I'm a director of the first 3D movie in Poland - “In Search of the 3rd Dimension”. One of my achievements is also the film “Gdynia cala naprzod!”, which was first on during the XXXI Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia. I was awarded an honourable prize at the Fifth Ever 3-D Movie Video Competition in California. On December 2007 I got an award for “The Talent of the Year“ from the Creative Societies Foundation in Olsztyn.

Function: the 3D camera operator

ESMEDEKH ALTANGEREL: I'm 24 years old, I was born in 1980 in Khuvsgul province in Mongolia. After the graduation the high school in 1995 started to help my parents with the animals. In 1990 started working as a horse trekking guide in Khuvsgul lake. Now I run a small guesthouse in Khatgal with my sister. Also still working as a guide now . I speak English, Russian and some Japanese. My hobby is singing and riding. I have a full of riding experience since I started riding when I was 6 years I like wrestling (national). My favourite thing to do is travelling in many different place. Now I’m teaching in the Children’s center in Muren (Mongolia).

Functions: guide, translator, technical support

XENIA STARZYNSKA: I’m architect and pilot of excursions. I work at realization of social project on country areas. I travel a lot. I have travelled through majority European country and scrap of Africa. Traditional culture is my biggest passion. I co-create two groups old traditional music . I am double scholarship holder of minister of culture. Aha. And I sail from 13 year old; )

Functions: Cook, navigator

IRENEUSZ KIEŁB:

Functions:

TOMEK PAWLIK: I’m 38 years old. I like to practice kite sailing, I am instructor of this sport. I also fly aircraft and paraglides. Since long time I think about idea of pass through desert on land-yacht vehicle I like to take exciting challenge.

Functions: pilot of paraglide

PIOTR MALCZEWSKI: I’m 36 year old. I’m a photographer of nature, traveller, touristic guide, instructor at Academy of Art in Poznan, I teach professional photography. I cooperate with photographic agencies in Poland France, Germany and Switzerland. I’m an author of many photo exhibition about natural topic, travel and artistic. Functions: photographer, the alternate captain of land-yacht

GUESTS OF HONOUR

Wojciech Skarzynski - “The God Father” of the expedition

Hubert Kiersnowski - one of the pioneer constructor

Aleksandra and Mariusz Grebieniow - parents of organizers (of Anna and Bogumil)

When our Guests of Honour will come, we want to put a commemorative stone on the step to celebrate this meeting and historical expedition.

"THE TRACK IS CREATED BY GOING ALONG IT..."

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