Young explorers on board Pangaea learn about the world’s ecosystems through hands-on experience. Celebrating Mike Horn’s journey as an eco-explorer and champion of the next generation, the Bowsprit Award shines a spotlight on environmental leadership and legacy.
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On the eve of the Monaco Yacht Show 2024, the award ceremony of The Honours was both a celebration, and a platform for fostering deep conversations about the industry’s future, environmental stewardship, and the lasting legacy of these exceptional leaders.
Mike Horn was one of three recipients of this year’s prestigious Bowsprit award, which seeks to recognise the exceptional and inspiring people of the superyacht industry who are inspiring change in the industry and beyond.
The intrepid explorer is on a mission to educate the next generation about the world’s environmental challenges and to inspire them to take action to help preserve the beauty of our planet.
“Explore, learn, act.” Those three words are the motto behind Horn’s yachting project Pangaea – but they could just as easily be applied to his own life. The South African-born adventurer has always had a fascination for exploration and a tireless curiosity about the world around him.
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This powerful combination has led him to develop a true passion for our planet and an unrelenting desire to inspire the next generation to act to save it.
“From a young age, I was a very active and curious child, never one to sit still for long,” says Horn. “I wanted to see places I’d never been, to face the unknown, and to confront fear head-on.” It was that curiosity that led him to the idea for his first major expedition; swimming the entire length of the Amazon – source to mouth – back in 1997. “It wasn’t just about adventure; it was about the unknown, the challenges, and the satisfaction of doing something no one had ever done before.”
Sailing, however, came a little later, when he had relocated to Switzerland in his twenties in search of new adventures. “I had the incredible opportunity to be invited by the famous Swiss sailor Laurent Bourgnon to join him as part of the crew on his 60-foot trimaran.
“I didn’t know the first thing about sailing, but I was full of enthusiasm and energy, so they put me to work as a winch grinder during regattas. Soon after, I knew I had to sail on my own.”
True to his word, he acquired a 28-foot trimaran and embarked on a solo sail across the Atlantic. “That journey was a turning point, marking the beginning of my sailing adventures,” says Horn. And what an adventure it turned out to be. Inspired by the expedition books he’d read as a child, he decided to build a vessel capable or venturing into places where neither planes nor helicopters could reach – all while respecting the environment. “This was no longer just about seeing new places, but about preserving them,” says Horn.
And this was to be no solo expedition. Instead, Horn decided to shape a four-year expedition around inspiring the younger generation. “I believed that our planet was changing so rapidly that the only way to truly protect it was to inspire the younger generation to see and appreciate its natural beauty firsthand,” he explains. 12 youngsters between 15 and 20 years old were handpicked from across the globe after a rigorous selection camp and together, they sailed all over the world, from Antarctica and India to Malaysia and Africa, launching environmental and social projects as they went, most of which are still active today.
“Through exploration, learning, and action, I hoped to inspire a new generation of environmental leaders who could make a tangible difference in protecting our planet,” says Horn. “These young people returned home not just as participants, but as ambassadors for the environment, ready to launch their own projects and inspire others to take action.”
That four-year expedition was only the beginning – today Horn’s mission is rooted in educating the next generation with a new program called Pangaea X, a continuation of the educational legacy from the original Pangaea project, but with a stronger focus on young innovators and change-makers. “We’re equipping the next generation with the tools they need to protect what’s left of our natural world,” says Horn.
So far, he’s been blown away by their enthusiasm. “Their level of engagement is inspiring – they come with a wealth of ideas, action plans, and a powerful drive to make a difference,” he says.
“There’s a tremendous amount of positive energy, and they’re not just talking about change – they’re ready to lead it.”
Meanwhile, Horn is part-way through his latest What’s Left expedition, exploring the most remote and untouched parts of the planet. “The goal of this expedition is not only to document what’s left of these pristine environments but also to raise awareness about the urgent need to protect them before they’re lost forever,” he explains. Having spent an entire year in Greenland, Horn is now headed back to the Amazon, where it all began. “The Amazon is where my career as an explorer truly began, when I swam down the river, and now, decades later, it remains a critical focus for my work.”
Pangaea, the boat that has seen him through it all, remains close to his heart. “Pangaea isn’t just a vessel to me; it’s home. It’s where I explore the world, celebrate holidays, and share meaningful moments with my family. The thrill of exploration still drives me, but I feel a deep sense of responsibility to protect the planet and to inspire others to do the same.”
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