66 Norte

PELAYO VIDA 2021 CHALLENGE

From 8 September 2021 to 24 September 2021

 

Five women who have suffered from cancer will experience the Arctic adventure in its purest form in this seventh edition of the Pelayo Vida Challenge: they will cover the more than 2,500 nautical miles that separate them from the port of Vigo to the Arctic Circle, the famous 66th parallel north latitude, i.e. the border between the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Surrounded by ice, icebergs and glaciers, they will have to sail at sub-zero temperatures, in extreme waters without any outside assistance. An endurance test for five women who proved that it was possible to overcome a disease such as cancer and that it will be possible to cover this distance in a spectacular, but at the same time very aggressive setting due to its extreme temperatures.

 

HOW

The Pelayo Vida 66 Norte Challenge, in its seventh edition, took five women who have overcome cancer to explore the inhospitable waters of the North Atlantic and the Arctic. This challenge aims to raise awareness of the benefits of physical exercise during and after cancer treatment. The journey, marked by icy landscapes, rough seas, and wildlife such as polar bears, beluga whales, and sea lions, took place in an extreme environment of overwhelming beauty. Inspired by explorers like Nansen and Amundsen, the challenge reached the geographic North Pole, at the 66th Parallel North, facing labyrinths of floating ice and endless cliffs. The summer sun revealed unique chromatic displays, highlighting the strength and resilience of those who faced this one-of-a-kind adventure.

WHY

The seventh edition of the Pelayo Vida Challenge, adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, takes five women who have overcome cancer to sail 2,500 nautical miles from Galicia to the Arctic Circle, reaching the 66th Parallel North. Facing extreme weather conditions, these women will take on roles as part of the crew, standing watch every three hours, sharing beds in shifts, cooking, cleaning, and dealing with the lack of comforts such as regular showers. This journey, designed to overcome personal and physical challenges, is a testament to resilience and strength, highlighting the importance of teamwork and the ability to adapt in demanding environments. With this edition, more than 1,500 women have participated in the selection process for this iconic challenge.

Cancer is a huge life lesson that makes you stronger, calmer, more patient, wiser ..., apart from teaching you to value LIFE as the wonderful gift that it is.

Ana, 49, breast cancer

Born in Madrid
Head of Financial Processes

The word cancer popped up in the middle of the pandemic. It paralysed me. I went back home, saw my daughters and said to myself: I'm going to get you and I'm going to do my best. A year later, I look at myself and feel that I am not the same. I see a woman with scars, but stronger, more determined and more eager to live every second than ever before. Ironically, cancer reconnects you to life.

Ana, 38, breast cancer

Born in Valencia
Headhunter

When my body went "I can’t", my mind countered "yes, you can". I trusted that I could, and I did indeed. Cancer taught me not only to live, but to feel alive.

Lourdes, 55, breast cancer

Born in Pamplona
Physical and sports trainer

Rather than an illness, this experience has been the perfect opportunity to turn my life into the one I always dreamed of.

Natalia, 47, breast cancer

Born in Madrid
Operating Room Nurse

Learning that life is fleeting made me learn to live the present moment, to minimise non-essential things, to be grateful every day for having the opportunity to live and to discover that life is so beautiful, that the will to fight and improve yourself comes by itself.

Susana, 46, breast cancer

Born in Málaga
Civil Servant

Pilar Casares

Head of the expedition

A deep-sea skipper, with a degree in Chemistry and a technical degree in Naval Mechanics, she has been the manager of her company Bigboy Náutica, located in Mallorca (Balearic Islands), since 2009. It provides nautical, rigging and charter qualifications. Pilar has embarked on hundreds of journeys. As a sailor, she has participated in major projects, such as the Estrella Galicia, Admiral’s Cup, Comodores Cup, Middle Sea Race, Rimini Corfu Rimini, La Duecento of Lignano. She has also participated in projects with women’s teams, such as Maltesers, and as a skipper in “Aguas de Mondariz” and in the women’s Match Race circuit. In 2007, she was pre-selected for the BWR and a crew member on the Imoca 60 ‘Central Lechera Asturiana’ in the Cantabrian Sea during the Vuelta a España. “For me, it’s an honor to have been chosen as the director of the Pelayo Vida Challenge and to lead these five brave women to the Arctic Circle. Just seeing their life drive, they are already an example for everyone” says Pilar.

  • Recognition from the Navy
  • Vigo Port Authority
  • Makers & Shakers Awards Nominees