Previously on “Man on the River”: Giacomo De Stefano, documentarist and traveller, undertakes a new endeavour: Rowing and sailing through the waterways connecting London to Istanbul, to get attention on the poor conditions of rivers, that could become a valuable resource by developing local economies and sustainable tourism. Many friends help him, from boatbuilding to the official departure on April 2010. After a month of navigation along the Thames and the Northern Sea, Giacomo is forced to stop on the wake of crossing the English Channel, due to a sudden illness.
After receiving first aid in England, he’s recovered to Venice’s Hospital where he fights a pneumonia virus that could have been deathly. Won this battle, Giacomo spends the last months in an effort to regain his physical strength, in order to set sails from where he left last year.

 

Beloved travellers of the rivers, of the seas
and of life, I am back!

My body has forced me to stop for months, except for a few occasional escapades aboard a traditional “Mascareta” up and down to Venice, to deliver zero impact veggies grown by my dear friend Federico and his dad Marco. I’m still not at my best: The doctors are not happy about my decision to set sails once more, but I feel fine.

 

This journey is different from my previous ones: It’s an experience that I’ve shared with many others and that maybe someone else could get done. I can’t say I wouldn’t be over the moon to row all the way to Istanbul: I’ll spend all my energy, love and passion to make it. However, as I’ve learned last year, things could have changed.
We are moving to a world where the absolute ego does not dominate anymore: The new driving force is the word “Us”, that brought me such a long way both in my life and in this Man on the River adventure. So, I now have to consider the opportunity to share the journey, should I have to stop again.

I’ve spent a lot of thinking about that. I’m not interested, not anymore, to be remembered as “the Man on the River”, the single individual that has rowed so many rivers and miles, meeting lots of people along the way.

I wish that many Men on the River could share the commitment about this journey and future ones: to dream and make dreams real. To care about others, about life and lives.

I’m not a performer. My goal is not arriving, but walking and sailing well in this life, bearing in mind the planet that I share. And to do that, I’m ready to take my risks, as many people do in these very hard times for the entire world.

I travel for me and for all those who “travel”, forced to run away from other men. I know that they don’t feel the same pleasure as I do: If they could, they wouldn’t move.

I see the damages caused by men that cared just for themselves, building empires and monuments. Sooner or later people open their eyes and make them fall, badly, causing further ruins and despair.

I can see a meaning only in sharing actions, with commitment and attention.

If the guys from Eden Exit didn’t help me, if Lago didn’t give me the opportunity to build Clodia, I wouldn’t be here. If John, Lena, Bob, Vitaliano, Sandro, Marco, Giuseppe, Marisa, Stefania, Silvio, Nicola, Paolo, Daniele, Lory, Roland, Claudio, Luca, Massimo, Pati, Malcolm, Paolo, Phyllis, Padri, Michael, Nicolò, Diana, Jacopo, Harry, Earl, Guy and many others didn’t support me I wouldn’t be here and the journey would never had begun.

I wish to set sails by the end of April, from the Albert Bridge in London, because I feel it’s important: A friend invited me to restart from there and I know he would be glad.

Along the way, in Faversham, I would be happy to help my friends from Historic Quay in defending from speculators, then return to Ramsgate and thank once more Pat and Ian who saved my life, and drink a good tea made by Corby. And then crossing the cannel, slowly.

This year my travel companion will be Bruno Porto, a great friend and skipper from Brazil. A great gift as Jacopo was last year.

What about Jacopo? This year he won’t be able follow me all along the way, but he’ll surely be aboard at some stage. He’s a great man.

This year we’ll also get ground support from Josephine Schaumburg that will take care of blogging and videoblogging from a different point of view. A great novelty that enriches our project.

What else can I say… Let me work over Clodia that is still sleeping in a stable with her fellow horses, in Essex.

Then I’ll take water and set to Istanbul, we’ll set to Istanbul together enjoying every single moment along the way.

Just a little plea. Last year we had problem with an issue that got more complicated than expected: feeding. Giacomo and friends just have basic needs and we’d be grateful to everyone than could provide even just a meal or a place to stay overnight in case of bad weather conditions. This would be a great way to contribute to our project.

Let’s call it Gift Economy. Fair winds.

Giacomo

A note from the team: Shortly you’ll find on the right colum of this website a “call for entries” banner. It will take you to an application form for requests about coming aboard with Giacomo for a few days. Due to the large amount of appliers and too little available room, this year we decided to make a selection, picking at first those people who can contribute in various ways to the project. If you feel that your presence would be important for a reason (culture, science, ethic, politic, sport, journalism or anything else) please write it in the application form and we’ll carefully consider it. Also, it will be quite important to know if you have a story to tell: Man on the River is all about stories. The team members will review every position, however the final decision will be taken by Giacomo.

It almost seems unreal. Up until the last moment, there were still holes to drill and screws to tighten. Then, a couple of hours later than originally planned, we were off.

 

After a few strokes of the oars, a light breeze started up: Jacopo and Giorgio, the canoe instructor and our third crew member, were able to sit back and enjoy. The sails are perfect. Ombra and Daniela from CO.RE. have done a great job.

The Canottieri Giudecca gave us a super send-off. We were honoured by having Giovanna della Toffola give a “toss the oars”, a thrill we were sorry to have missed reciprocating in the emotions of the moment.

We also thank Michael the Viking, who followed us with his boat, as well as Giovanni, Niccolo and Diana (whose masts, and more besides, will be travelling with us), Maurizio Raunich, Radames (who gave us fishing tackle) and many other friends besides.

Then we lowered the sails and reached San Giuliano by rowing. Overall, a little farther than 8 km, covered in 1 hour 15 minutes. Thank you Giorgio!

With great generosity, Bebi Bruson and Sandro Rallo transported the boat – with us – to Motta di Livenza; not without one or two tricky moments!

De Girolami, and Gianni in particular, waited for us until well after the closing time and the boat left, full of our dreams and good intentions.

We will join it by train at Wargrave, close to Henley on Thames, at the Bushnell dock facility.

Thank you everyone! When we leave, every one of you will be on board with us.

There is still some work to be done. Then Clodia will be ready to leave Venice. After three months spent in Lago Art Waiting Room, in the last two weeks we have been working in the open air, where we have had to contend with rain and snow. But at last spring has sprung!

Canottieri Giudecca, a prestigious rowing club with marvelous people, hosted and helped us. I wish to thank Giovanna della Toffola, winner of four Venice Historical Regattas: she gave us warmth and really a lot of help.

Many friends have been supporting us in a miracle called solidarity: Silvio Lago was extraordinary, Niccolo Zen built some wonderful masts, Michael Kierkgaard put a touch of real Viking history on Clodia by shaping Norse oars for us. We are also grateful to Diana, Massimo Di Nonno, Jacopo, Giulia Julita, Alfonso, who fed us in our crazy working days.

The boat was tested in the Giudecca Canal and it’s fantastic. It flies gracefully over the water: thanks to Roland, Clodia must be your masterpiece.

 
Yesterday we received an unexpected but most appreciated visit: Guillemette Dufouleur, “pianiste de l’aventure” and Christophe Clavet, “photographe de l’aventure”. They told us the story of their journey on a bicycle powered by human and solar power, and transporting a piano.

They are travelling across Europe to bring music where is not supposed to be and taking poetry to all of us. You can find more information on their trip at www.pianotrip.com. A fantastic and enlightened project: I hope to meet them very soon along our path as they will coast the Danube for quite some time.

 
After the Cello of Mario Brunello, what about the Piano of Guillemette Dufouleur? I will try to make it happen.

The last weeks have been proved to be a tough time for me, racing around to meet people, begging for help, finding stuff, giving interviews and finishing the boat. But I am very happy indeed. Jacopo is a fantastic companion and all the people I met… so I am both breathless and speechless: I’d have never reached this point without all their support.

On Thursday 8th, Clodia will be put into water to leave Canottieri Giudecca and reach a “De Girolami” truck, which will take the Ness Yawl to Wargrave (UK) on the Thames, at the Bushnell Boatyard, for free. A few boats will accompany us: it will be a very emotional moment for me.

Take care my friends. Be water.

Giacomo

We just received a message of encouragement from the European Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Janez Potočnik:

“I am happy to send a message of support to Giacomo De Stefano, the Man on the River.

Your journey from London to Istanbul is an example to us all of how we can treat the environment more respectfully. As European Commissioner for the Environment, I know just how important it is that we pay more attention to our ecosystems and to the biodiversity we depend on so much – sometimes without even realizing it! You have found a gentle and effective way of reminding us just how much we have to lose.

From a ‘Man in Brussels’, to the ‘Man on the River’, I wish you the best of luck in your journey – it’s a worthwhile one!”

A warm thank you to Mr Potočnik from Giacomo and all the team!

Giacomo and his boat “Clodia” have been at visitors’ disposal at the International Boat Show of Venice from the 18th to the 21st of March, receiving many enthusiastic responses and releasing interviews to press, radio and televisions.

The official press conference was held on Saturday 20th: for this occasion, Giacomo projected the new presentation video (created by Jorge Scassa and here seen in the YouTube version). All attendants enjoyed new details about the journey, the boat and the technologies that are currently being implemented to follow Giacomo’s adventure.

Moreover Giacomo and a few team members shed new lights about the reasons that are making this project so powerful. We like to remember that yesterday was celebrated the World Water Day, whose themes are so close to Giacomo’s beliefs, helping and motivating him along his effort throughout Europe.

This week you may meet Giacomo in the following locations:

March 25th, 6:30 p.m.
LagoStore Milano
Corso Lodi, 2
Milano, Italy

March 26th, 6:30 p.m.
LagoStore Bologna
Viale Quirico Filopanti 4P
Bologna, Italy

Last night, the Ness Yawl has been Christened by the art of Mario Brunello, who delighted the audience by playing a Bach’s Suite for cello, aboard the boat.

We proudly announce the new Ness Yawl name: “Clodia”, from the latin name of Chioggia, a city near Venice, with whom Giacomo feels a special kinship.

The event, held at Antiruggine (the art and culture centre created by Mario and Arianna Brunello in Castelfranco Veneto), has seen many people coming to hear Giacomo’s speech about his story and the reasons that drew him to dedicate his life to water related projects.

During the two hour discussion, Giacomo presented and thanked many team members, notably Jacopo Epis, the co-rower that will join him along the journey. In the background, the “Clodia”, just a few days away from completion.

In the end, Mario Brunello honoured Giacomo and the team by playing aboard the boat, used as a giant soundbox.

A most appreciated gift and a wish of luck.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Please remember that the “Clodia” and Giacomo will both participate to the International Boat Show of Venice from the 18th to the 21st of march.