Adventurer Matt Rutherford will receive a hero’s welcome Saturday when he arrives in Annapolis, Md., completing a 25,000-mile voyage around North and South America in a 27-foot Albin Vega sailboat. He will enter the record books as the first person to ever make the 300-day journey solo and non-stop.
Rutherford will drop anchor at the National Sailing Hall of Fame dock at the end of City Dock at 67-69 Prince George St. in Annapolis. The celebration will begin at noon.
The public is encouraged to join a crowd of supporters – including friends, the sailing community, and public officials – who will greet Rutherford and cheer his achievement.
Gary Jobson, president of US Sailing, author of 17 sailing books and editor-at-large of Sailing World and Cruising World magazines, will preside as the emcee for the welcome on land.
Organizers for the Solo the Americas voyage plan to steam live online Rutherford’s first steps on land in 314 days from the home site and http://crabsailing.org. View the live show on your iPhone or iPad from http://www.livestream.com/t2ptv
Rutherford made the voyage to raise $250,000 for Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating, a non-profit sailing program for people with disabilities based in Annapolis, Md. Track Matt’s progress, map his course and read his ongoing blog at www.solotheamericas.org.
