Ulysse Nardin has a new “Ulysses” onboard. Dan Lenard, co-founder of the Italian yacht design firm Nuvolari-Lenard, departed on his daring adventure: a transatlantic crossing departed on January 20th from Cadiz, Spain and arriving at the Miami Boat Show around February 14th. Ulysse Nardin will be present as one of the main sponsors. Dan’s company specializes in the design of yachts for both private clients and shipyards. Based near Venice, the studio has created some of the world’s most acclaimed superyachts, winning major awards and becoming both prolific and highly sought-after yacht designers.
The aim of his journey is to raise awareness for the plight of the seas. Dan Lenard chose sailing because it is one of the modes of transport that were used by humans to explore the Earth. Today, his voyage is bearing witness to how polluted the seas and coastlines have become. Ulysse Nardin endorses Dan Lenard’s mission, which he has called “Vela-Code”. For this new Ulysses, this journey is a “distress signal on behalf of the ocean”, calling for a need to reset how we treat our environment. We need focused initiatives, for both prevention and cure: prevention, through intelligent design of yachts and through education to highlight activities and behaviours that cause damage; cure, by taking responsibility for what we have done and devoting resources to repair the damage.
“Our Manufacture’s heritage has strong ties with the ocean. Being a part of this adventure is relevant to Ulysse Nardin’s values and history”, commented Patrick Pruniaux, Ulysse Nardin’s CEO. Dan Lenard joins the Ulysse Nardin Armada of Explorers formed by free-diver and photographer Fred Buyle, sailors Sébastien Destremau and Romain Pilliard, snowboarder and surfer Mathieu Crépel and kite-surfing champion Alex Caizergues.
Dan Lenard’s true challenge on this journey is the fact that he is alone on his 33-foot-long sailboat, SCIA, without equipment such as an engine, any electronics, GPS, log, compass or autopilot. Dan’s only gear will be the watch on his wrist, a Ulysse Nardin Diver Chronometer Great White, that will accompany him on his mission.
The Vela-Code mission has set up two accounts, Instagram @vela.code and a Facebook page, Vela-page. SCIA is equipped with a tracker/beacon that will signal Dan Lenard’s position every hour throughout the voyage. While he can’t chart his progress via this device, his audience can. The shore team will update the project’s social media sites and the website will display his progress from data received via the beacon. Since the 20th of January until around the 5th February, he will be out of contact with the world, until he reaches the Carribeans.
