British explorer Robert Swan is planning to circumnavigate the Americas in a sailing boat via the Northwest Passage to highlight the effects of global warming.

The first successful navigation of the Northwest Passage was documented in 1906, a journey that took three years.

A century later, Swan expects to sail the same route in only three months, a period he says would not be possible but for the effect of global warming and the melting of Arctic ice. The entire trip will take 10 months. He hopes to set out in May 2006, sailing from San Diego.