Adventurer Ollie Hicks is going to cast of for his ultimate adventure in 2012. He wants to row around the 18.000
nautical miles around Antarctica in a 18-22 months period. If he completes the giant expedition he will be the first who has done the stretch alone in a rowing boat.

The Brit Olly Hicks has done a number of long distance rows. In 2005 Olly completed a row across the Atlantic, becoming not only the first person to do so from the USA to the UK, but also the youngest to row any ocean solo.

In January 2009 Olly departed Tasmania on the Virgin Global Row. After 96 days he landed in New Zealand,. In August he paddled across the North Sea from Katveik in Holland to Sizewell beach, UK where he was  welcomed by Prince Harry and a lot of other people.

The 43 hour and 120 miles crossing of the North Sea wasn’t even a warm up for what he is about to set off for in 2012. Here’s how he describes is Global Row expedition:

He will leave from Tasmania in October 2012, heading towards Cape
Horn and passing through the Drake Passage, and after 8,000 miles and
approximately 160 days at sea will land on South Georgia, approx 750
miles ESE of the Falkland Islands, in the South Atlantic. Here, he will
over winter at the scientific base, avoiding the worst of the furious
winter conditions in the Southern Ocean.

One of the main risks to the success of the expedition is the accumulation of ice on the vessel's superstructure, thus raising the center of mass and making her unstable and liable to capsize. Although the vessel is self righting and can therefore overcome such problems, the voyage has been planned so that the two legs of the journey do not take place when the sea conditions are conducive to icing. As Olly will be ashore on South Georgia over the winter when the conditions are worst, he will avoid this potential risk.

The boat will here take on a resupply, and undergo any necessary boat repairs and equipment changes. In October Olly will leave again to continue for 9,000 miles through the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Olly will pass close to Kerguelen and within a reasonable distance (approx 200-250 miles) of the Prince  Edward, Crozet and MacDonald islands, which could be beneficial should  the need arise to make further repairs or take on supplies. Having passed through these islands, there remains one last long stretch through the Southern Indian Ocean to return to Olly's starting point in Tasmania- Olly aims return to Tasmania in April, 18 months after his initial departure.

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