Kite Quest 200:
Across the north Atlantic… by kite!
In 2005 Dom Mee undertook an incredible mission to create several world ‘firsts’ by crossing the North Atlantic in a kite boat. Find out what happened in this amazing story.
KiteQuest 200 news stories
- 16 Mar 2005
- Esporta to shape up explorer
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The South West explorer Dom Mee announced today that he has arranged a support deal with Taunton's premier Health & Fitness facility Esporta. The international network of health clubs will be pivotal in providing the facilities Dom requires to prepare physically for his next challenge.
Esporta’s network of Health Clubs in the southwest and in London will prove invaluable to Dom as he juggles appointments in the city and an ever-demanding schedule of engagements here in the southwest.
Dom Mee quotes:
“Esporta’s facilities are second to none; it offers me the 100% professional environment that is essential to aiding me in my physical and mental preparation for my latest project.”
This support package further extends Dom's commitment to the development of his southwest business partner Portfolio. Dom and his team have worked tirelessly over the winter months, recruiting potential sponsorship packages, many of which again have strong ties to the southwest. These will be announced
Dom's next venture passes back to his core aspirations of crossing large expanses of oceans. This one has the potential of becoming a world record breaker. It will create a number of global firsts in one unique crossing. This project will be launched very soon.
- 11 Apr 2005
- Devon Boat Builders to Build Explorer’s Revolutionary new Craft
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DOM MEE AND HIS SECRET NEW CHALLENGE INTO THE UNKNOWN ALONE
Rowsell and Atkin Exmouth based boat builders are proud to announce they are to build a vessel for the Maritime Explorer Dom Mee. Dom’s next expedition aims to be a world first and is being kept a closely guarded secret. Project sponsor and Maritime Security Company IDS International are providing counter surveillance equipment to make sure the Dom’s next venture will be kept under wraps.
“It has been very exciting with men in black visiting the yard installing surveillance equipment and making us sign disclosure contracts. I feel like Q in a James Bond movie”
quoted Justin Atkin, boat builder.The project will be very pioneering in keeping with Dom’s belief that to be called an explorer means to pioneer new concepts and promote the furtherance of knowledge.
The next project has been a global collective think tank with input from New Zealand, America and Europe and research and development continues with still many hurdles still to be overcome.
“The next expedition will be one of my hardest challenges to date that will test me to my very soul, success is not guaranteed as I will enter into the unknown in a venture not even tried before, it will be very technical and physical challenge”
quoted Dom.Rowsell and Atkin have many years of experience in boat building and were selected as they have proved to be diverse in the projects they under take. The yard has build award winning racing dinghies, around the world tri-marans and lately have specialised in building Ocean Row boats. Justin Atkin who runs the yard will in November this year row across the Atlantic as part of the Woodvale Events Atlantic Rowing Race.
Top designer Phil Morrison has been involved in designing Dom’s new vessel with his vast experience in boat design he has proved a great asset to the team.
- 23 June 2005
- Dom Mee to display world’s first ocean-going Kite Boat in Taunton Town Centre
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Dom Mee has chosen to unveil his revolutionary new craft for the first time in Taunton on Tuesday 28th June, between 12 and 3 pm. The craft will be traveling from the Exmouth boat builders Rowsall & Adkin on Tuesday morning and will be displayed on the West Side of Market House throughout Tuesday afternoon. Dom is very keen to unveil his craft in Taunton to highlight the crafts association with Somerset businesses & his personal bond with the charity Dr Barnardo’s.
This is the only ocean-going Kite vessel in the world. It has been entirely produced here in the South West with the support of Devon & Somerset businesses, such as estate agents Wilkie May & Tuckwood.
Exeter’s Westerly Mini’s sponsorship has provided Dom’s team with vital transport over the last two year enabling his team to be continually mobile during the ever demanding planning phases of the project.
Dom and his team also want to thank Esporta gymnasium in Taunton for their support package which has aided Dom in his preparation for this epic adventure. Many more businesses have helped along the way, and their logos will be dispayed on Dom’s boat during his record breaking attempt.
Full details of the project's exact route have not yet been released. However Dom Mee says:
“This is an epic project, my hardest challenge yet. I will be crossing an ocean in a vessel powered only by kites. This is truly into the unknown. I really like that”
The Kite Quest 200 craft will be loaded into its sea container late July to be shipped to Dom’s start point. We will of course keep everybody informed as the project's true scale is released to the outside world.
- 19 July 2005
- Dom Mee’s launch of the world’s first ocean-going kite boat
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Dom Mee will officially announce today that it is his intention to traverse the North Atlantic from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada using the Worlds first ocean going Kite Boat. He is expected to arrive into Exmouth, Devon, anywhere between thirty five and seventy five days later.
The14ft craft has been kitted out with the latest in satellite communication & navigational equipment, with state of the art email, VHF and location tracking systems to ensure the crossing of 2,500 miles is a safe one. The Hardware has been supplied & fitted by 7E Communications and Garmin Europe. With the satellite Airtime & Data transfer being sponsored by Stratos Global Communications all will be able to track Dom's progress through his new website, www.dommee.co.uk
The Kite Quest 200 craft will be loaded into its sea container late July to be shipped to St. John’s with the help of Dom's sponsors Eimskip Shipping. Dom himself will fly out courtesy of Air Canada Cargo to meet his revolutionary new vessel in mid August.
A brief naming ceremony & presentation will be given on the day, including the named boat being blessed before her departure to Canada. The Boat will be named by an anonymous party whose details Dom is keeping very close to his chest.
This is the only ocean-going Kite vessel in the World. Dom will transit the North Atlantic powered only by specially designed Kites developed by an American company Kiteship. The Boat has been entirely produced here in the South West with the support of Devon & Somerset businesses. It is only fitting that the journey should return to Exmouth his old home and where he learnt to sail.
This is just the start of an epic week for Dom as on the 20th July he will be traveling to London to attend a Maritime Reception to be given at St. James's Palace by the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. He will then return shortly after to finish his final preparations before loading the Kite Quest boat.
- 28 July 2005
- ‘Little Murka’ is on her way!
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It has been an amazing couple of weeks, which started with the official naming ceremony of ‘Little Murka’ at the Elizabeth Hall in Exmouth. World famous Uri Geller kindly came down to break the champagne over ‘Little Murka’ and wish us luck. Uri’s incredible positive energy left everyone buzzing and he kindly bent two spoons for us, all this left even the most sceptical in the audience astounded by Uri’s mind power.
I then had the great honour of being invited to St James Palace for the annual Maritime Reception hosted by Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. I had a wonderful evening and managed to speak briefly with Her Majesty and inform her of my next expedition, which was a great honour.
This week saw ‘Little Murka’ safely packed into her sea container thanks to Eimskip our shipping sponsor. Adrian and I drove up and delivered the boat to Nordic Terminal at Immingham docks near Grimsby. A big thank you to Mike McDonald from Eimskip and all the Dockers at Nordic Terminal for moving ‘Little Murka’ with such great care. She will arrive in Argentia Newfoundland 11th August before being moved to St. John’s for final preparation to get her ready for the voyage.
I will be flying out with the team to St. John’s 12th August to be reunited with ‘Little Murka’ were we will wait for a weather window before setting off into the North Atlantic.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my sponsors and friends for their support for Kite Quest 200. With a special note to Jamie Fabrizio my boat builder for his tireless dedication to building ‘Little Murka’ from scratch. It has been a huge effort to get this far as the challenge looms closer, all I can say I will do my best the fight will be good.
- 26 Sept 2005
- Rescue Mee
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After 39 days at sea Maritime Explorer Dom Mee has initiated his emergency rescue plan after the combined effects of Hurricanes Katrina, Maria, Natal & Rita overwhelmed his boats systems and he suffered a prolonged loss of outbound communication coupled with extreme storm conditions.
Sunday 25th September Project Manager Adrian Wibrew received a call from Falmouth Coast Guard's duty watch keeper informing him that ‘Little Murka's’ EPIRB (Emergency position indicating radio beacon) had been activated; indicating that Dom was in grave and imminent danger.
Falmouth Coast Guard had been contacted by JRCC (Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre) Halifax advising them of the activation and seeking further information about the vessel and the number of crew at risk. At that time JRCC Halifax broadcasted a ‘Maritime Assistance Request’ to all shipping in the area for assistance.
JRCC's staff is responsible for the collation and distribution of essential information concerning a distress situation. They arrange the dispatch of rescue assets and personnel to ships and aircraft in distress and co-ordinate these efforts of all responding resources.
Adrian made contact with JRCC’s duty watch keeper and answered his questions about the last known status of Dom, his vessel ‘Little Murka’ and the emergency equipment on board. They confirmed the deployment of their search and rescue aircraft; “Rescue 313” which was tracking ‘Little Murka’s’ EPIRB GPS signal.
In turn Dom's PLB (Personal Locater Beacon) had also been activated suggesting that Dom had been forced from his vessel highlighting the need for urgent rescue.
The duty watch keeper at Halifax informed Adrian that the adverse sea state and storm conditions were less than perfect for a rescue attempt.
“Dom is in the worst possible place he could be in the North Atlantic; it could take some time to get to him. He is in a massive storm with 50-60 knot winds and experiencing mountainous swell… however we will do our best”
.It took some time for ‘Rescue 313’ a Hercules aircraft to locate "Little Murka", however there was no sign of Dom. After circling for some time mindful of the adverse conditions; unable to get closer than 50 feet without risk to Dom and his boat, Dom emerged from his cabin.
Having identified that Dom was aboard and on deck the crew dropped an emergency assistance package; including life raft, food, water and radios. Dom fought to secure these and subsequently contacted the rescue team.
Over night bulk container ship BERGE NORD has responded to the “Maritime assistance request” and made its way to Dom's co-ordinates. In turn ‘Rescue 313’ has been replaced by the aircraft ‘Rescue 116’ and the Canadian Coastguard Vessel CYGNUS is on route to assist it is expected to reach the location at 10:00 today.
For minute by minute information please visit the BLOG which will be updated as soon as we receive more information.
Further coverage of Dom’s incredible expriences during KiteQuest 200 can be found by reading his blog from that period, still available online.
Epilogue
- Spring, 2007
- Dramatic lost KiteQuest footage recovered and available to view online!
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When Little Murka was savaged by the worst hurricanes in recent memory, thereby putting a premature end to KiteQuest 200, the waterproof camera that recorded Dom's video diary entries from the stricken vessel was considered lost. However, when the apparently unsinkable Little Murka was washed up on the shores of Ireland the camera – incredibly – was found to be intact.
Now you can see for yourself the last recordings from that incredible voyage.