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Explorers to attempt dangerous sea crossing – by Land Rover
FOUR explorers from Yorkshire are setting off in a specially-modified Land Rover that they aim to sail across the perilous Bering Strait between Siberia and Alaska.
Farmer Steve Burgess and partner Nicky Spinks are about to leave their home in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, for a journey that will take them across Europe to Russia and then south through the Americas to the tip of Chile.
Mr Burgess, 52, is hoping to become the first person to "drive" a land vehicle across the Bering Strait, which he will do in a Land Rover Defender 110, complete with flotation system.
The vehicle has also been adapted to take snow tracks for the -50C Siberian tundra.
The team also includes company directors Simon Dedman, 44, from Mirfield, and Dan Evans, 38, from Skipton.
Just Mr Burgess and Mr Evans, who collaborated on the Land Rover's modifications, will attempt the potentially dangerous crossing of the Bering
Strait.
Their year-long journey will take in Europe and move on to Moscow. Once in Alaska, the team will drive south through North America, Central America and South America.
The trip has been six years in the planning and is expected to cost 250,000.
Extensive tests have been made on the flotation system and the tracks, including sailing 22 miles at an average of five knots.
Mr Burgess, who has experience of exploring Africa and Asia, said: "I've done some challenges before but this is going to be the biggest.
"Panama and Colombia will be challenging but nowhere is as challenging as Siberia. It's huge and has an extreme climate."
For more details visit www.capetocape.org.uk
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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