Actor Ewan McGregor is preparing for a challenging new adventure, embarking on a transatlantic voyage from Scotland to Brazil. The 55-year-old will be part of a four-person crew sailing a 55-foot yacht from Oban to Rio de Janeiro later this month.
McGregor, who admitted he is new to sailing, has been undergoing intensive training for the journey. This included a survival course in a wave tank with simulated storm conditions, designed to teach essential safety protocols. "We did a survival course in a wave tank where they throw you in, put the waves on and turn the lights out," McGregor stated. "There are rain machines and you’ve got to try and get into a life raft and other kinds of scary scenarios."
The trip is being documented for a new sailing series titled True Wind, produced by the team behind McGregor's "Long Way" motorbike documentaries. The idea for the adventure originated when McGregor and his childhood friend Eric Strickland, a producer and cameraman who will serve as captain, discussed restoring a damaged yacht inherited by Strickland. "When he found out, he was he was telling me how much money it was going to cost to restore this boat and he couldn’t find the right people to work on it," McGregor said.
Initially, the plan involved fixing Strickland's inherited boat, but the restoration costs proved too high. The crew ultimately purchased a 1988 55-foot oyster boat for a nominal fee, which required less extensive work. "So, I said to Eric, sort of as a joke, “What we should do is we should make a documentary. We’ll do the boat up and sail it across the Atlantic”," McGregor explained. "And both of our eyes went, ‘Oh, so now we’re doing just that.’"
Joining McGregor and Strickland on the voyage are Dave Alexanian, a producer from the "Long Way" series, and a cameraman. The crew will have individual cabins, a shared freezer and fridge, and storage space for non-perishable food items.
This expedition follows McGregor's previous on-camera adventures, including four seasons of the "Long Way" motorcycle series with Charley Boorman. A book detailing the approximately 5,000-mile journey is also planned to accompany the documentary series. The broadcasting details for True Wind have not yet been announced.