Who are we?
![Picture](/uploads/4/8/9/2/4892367/7545321.jpg)
The Hanse 470e with the name "Kontrakorriente" is boat owned and operated by Dreams & Adventures S.L.
The company Dreams & Adventures was founded in 1996 by spanish entrepreneur and adventures Andreu Mateu
Andreu Mateu is a man who has always tried to follow his dreams.
In 1.986 Andreu graduated from ESADE Business School with a Bsc in Economics and an MBA and headed towards New York with a rucksack full of dreams.
After 5 years of experience working as an executive in New York, he came to a halt and decided he needed a change of direction. Disconnecting his home telephone, he took time to reflect upon his dreams and so he drew up a list of all the goals he had: To fly by air, to navigate the oceans, to dive into the deepest seas, to cross the deserts, to climb mountains and to explore the world, getting to know its countries, its peoples and its different cultures.
To experience the diversifying forms of the planet was the overriding aim that became clear to Andreu. He therefore thought of the idea of organising a voyage around the world, with three objectives in mind: to travel through as many countries as possible, using as many different types of transport, whilst succeeding in a series of different challenges by exploring his own limits to the full.
A few weeks later, Andreu decided to leave his job at the Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy in New York and sell all his possessions, so that he could fulfil his dreams, on an expedition, which he had already named "The Transcovery Project.
AN AMAZING TRIP ALL AROUND THE WORLD...
On August 11th 1992 Andreu strapped on a pair of inline skates and departed from Spain to begin his new adventure. During the three years and two months, which the expedition lasted, he travelled with a video camera, a photo camera and a portable computer. With this equipment, Andreu was able to record his adventure, which caused him to risk his life on various occasions.
In pursuing his dream across the globe, Andreu swam the Straits of Gibraltar, crossed the Atlantic Ocean solo in a 30-foot sailing boat, cycled across Europe, and traversed the entire length of Africa by motorbike.
In October 1995 Andreu returned to Spain with more than 12,000 photographs and 170 hours of videotape. Whilst organising all this material for his Inspirational Conferences, travel articles and radio programmes; the prestigious international consultancy Coopers & Lybrand asked him to take charge of the organisation of an outdoor motivational program.
Aware of the benefits of what "The Transcovery Project" had done for his persona, having fulfilled his dreams and adventures by pushing himself to the limits, Andreu was keen to share his inspiration and experiences with the commercial world. As it is the personnel who determine the efficiency of any organization, he identified an opportunity for companies to benefit from motivation and team building courses. Consequently, he decided to dedicate the rest of his life to building the company Dreams and Adventures, in order to express his belief in determination.In 2006 he decided to challenge himself with a new dream: To row the Atlantic solo. In March 2007 he arrived to the Island of Martinique after rowing for 94 days from the Island of La gomera and became the first Spanish person to row an ocean solo. As a recognition for his achievement he recieved the prize. "Premio Internacional a la Hazaña deportiva" ( International Prize at the Sports Achievement" from the spanish sports newspaper "Marca".In 2.007 he decided to invest thorugh Dreams & Adventures in a Hanse 470 yacht to be able to offer sailing to his international clients.
SUMMARY
Andreu Mateu Lamas was born in Reus, Tarragona, in 1962. He is an entrepreneur, an adventurer, a sailor, a globe-trotter and a professional speaker.
In 1986, he got a bachelor degree in Business Administration and an MBA at ESADE University.
In 1987, he got a diploma in Touristic Activities and Company Management delivered by the CETT of Barcelona.
In 1988, he started his career in the “Barcelona Development Agency” in New York by promoting Barcelona as an ideal place for north-american companies to implement offices in Europe.
In 1989, he became Assistant Manager of the Department of Industrial Products in the Trade Office of the Spanish Embassy in New York.
In 1991, he became aware that he needed a change in his life.
In December of 1991, he submitted his resignation to the Spanish trade Office and totally devoted himself to prepare the “biggest dream of his life”.
In January of 1992, he moved to Miami (EEUU) and started learning how to pilot planes.
In May of 1992, he flew to Puerto Rico where he boarded a sailboat in order to cross the Atlantic.
In August of 1992, he put on a pair of rollerblades and skate down the Tibidabo Mountain in Barcelona. This was the first step of the “Transcovery Project”, that took him around the world through 120 countries, using more than 130 different means of transport, overcoming many adventures in order to challenge himself as much as he could.
For three years and two months, he travelled all over the world and overcame all the challenges he faced.
Some of the challenges he overcame are:
- Being the first person to skate from Barcelona to Reus (110 km) (1992)
- Being the first person to sail from Barcelona to the Balearic Islands on a “Patín Catalán” (1992)
- Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar swimming in 5 hours and 16 minutes (1992)
- Crossing the Atlantic solo on a 9 meters sailing boat for 34 days (1993)
Buenos Aires to San Diego driving on a 4x4 (36.000 km) (1993).
- Running the Marathon from Marathon to Athens (1994)
- Copenhagen to Rome on a bicycle (1994)
- Rounding Africa with a motorbike (50.000 Km)
- Summing up; 120 countries in 130 means of transportation.
Upon his arrival in 1996, he decided to put together all his adventure, auto-motivation and business experience and founds Dreams and Adventures, specialized company in event organization, outdoor training and motivational speeches. More info available at www.dreamsandadventures.com
In 1997 he participates in the famous Paris-Dakar Rally. In the 7th leg he is forced to abandon his quest due to a sever crash that resulted in a collar bone fracture.
In 2002 he is awarded with the Catalan Tourism Medal, official award of the Catalan Government, Generalitat de Catalunya.
In 2006 he decides to achieve another unbelievable challenge. Crossing the Atlantic rowing solo without assistance.
January 2007 he departures from “La Gomera” on a rowing boat.
March 2007 arrives at Martinica Island after 94 days rowing in the Atlantic and becomes the first spanish person to row an ocean.
Later on in 2007 he receives the Guinness Book of Records Certificate as the First Spanish who has ever crossed the Atlantic Ocean solo and without assistance.
In 2008 he is awarded with the International Award Hazaña Deportiva del año issued by the spanish sports magazine “Marca”
Nowadays he is working as a speaker, event organizer and boat charter business man. He is currently working on two books he will soon release.
The company Dreams & Adventures was founded in 1996 by spanish entrepreneur and adventures Andreu Mateu
Andreu Mateu is a man who has always tried to follow his dreams.
In 1.986 Andreu graduated from ESADE Business School with a Bsc in Economics and an MBA and headed towards New York with a rucksack full of dreams.
After 5 years of experience working as an executive in New York, he came to a halt and decided he needed a change of direction. Disconnecting his home telephone, he took time to reflect upon his dreams and so he drew up a list of all the goals he had: To fly by air, to navigate the oceans, to dive into the deepest seas, to cross the deserts, to climb mountains and to explore the world, getting to know its countries, its peoples and its different cultures.
To experience the diversifying forms of the planet was the overriding aim that became clear to Andreu. He therefore thought of the idea of organising a voyage around the world, with three objectives in mind: to travel through as many countries as possible, using as many different types of transport, whilst succeeding in a series of different challenges by exploring his own limits to the full.
A few weeks later, Andreu decided to leave his job at the Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy in New York and sell all his possessions, so that he could fulfil his dreams, on an expedition, which he had already named "The Transcovery Project.
AN AMAZING TRIP ALL AROUND THE WORLD...
On August 11th 1992 Andreu strapped on a pair of inline skates and departed from Spain to begin his new adventure. During the three years and two months, which the expedition lasted, he travelled with a video camera, a photo camera and a portable computer. With this equipment, Andreu was able to record his adventure, which caused him to risk his life on various occasions.
In pursuing his dream across the globe, Andreu swam the Straits of Gibraltar, crossed the Atlantic Ocean solo in a 30-foot sailing boat, cycled across Europe, and traversed the entire length of Africa by motorbike.
In October 1995 Andreu returned to Spain with more than 12,000 photographs and 170 hours of videotape. Whilst organising all this material for his Inspirational Conferences, travel articles and radio programmes; the prestigious international consultancy Coopers & Lybrand asked him to take charge of the organisation of an outdoor motivational program.
Aware of the benefits of what "The Transcovery Project" had done for his persona, having fulfilled his dreams and adventures by pushing himself to the limits, Andreu was keen to share his inspiration and experiences with the commercial world. As it is the personnel who determine the efficiency of any organization, he identified an opportunity for companies to benefit from motivation and team building courses. Consequently, he decided to dedicate the rest of his life to building the company Dreams and Adventures, in order to express his belief in determination.In 2006 he decided to challenge himself with a new dream: To row the Atlantic solo. In March 2007 he arrived to the Island of Martinique after rowing for 94 days from the Island of La gomera and became the first Spanish person to row an ocean solo. As a recognition for his achievement he recieved the prize. "Premio Internacional a la Hazaña deportiva" ( International Prize at the Sports Achievement" from the spanish sports newspaper "Marca".In 2.007 he decided to invest thorugh Dreams & Adventures in a Hanse 470 yacht to be able to offer sailing to his international clients.
SUMMARY
Andreu Mateu Lamas was born in Reus, Tarragona, in 1962. He is an entrepreneur, an adventurer, a sailor, a globe-trotter and a professional speaker.
In 1986, he got a bachelor degree in Business Administration and an MBA at ESADE University.
In 1987, he got a diploma in Touristic Activities and Company Management delivered by the CETT of Barcelona.
In 1988, he started his career in the “Barcelona Development Agency” in New York by promoting Barcelona as an ideal place for north-american companies to implement offices in Europe.
In 1989, he became Assistant Manager of the Department of Industrial Products in the Trade Office of the Spanish Embassy in New York.
In 1991, he became aware that he needed a change in his life.
In December of 1991, he submitted his resignation to the Spanish trade Office and totally devoted himself to prepare the “biggest dream of his life”.
In January of 1992, he moved to Miami (EEUU) and started learning how to pilot planes.
In May of 1992, he flew to Puerto Rico where he boarded a sailboat in order to cross the Atlantic.
In August of 1992, he put on a pair of rollerblades and skate down the Tibidabo Mountain in Barcelona. This was the first step of the “Transcovery Project”, that took him around the world through 120 countries, using more than 130 different means of transport, overcoming many adventures in order to challenge himself as much as he could.
For three years and two months, he travelled all over the world and overcame all the challenges he faced.
Some of the challenges he overcame are:
- Being the first person to skate from Barcelona to Reus (110 km) (1992)
- Being the first person to sail from Barcelona to the Balearic Islands on a “Patín Catalán” (1992)
- Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar swimming in 5 hours and 16 minutes (1992)
- Crossing the Atlantic solo on a 9 meters sailing boat for 34 days (1993)
Buenos Aires to San Diego driving on a 4x4 (36.000 km) (1993).
- Running the Marathon from Marathon to Athens (1994)
- Copenhagen to Rome on a bicycle (1994)
- Rounding Africa with a motorbike (50.000 Km)
- Summing up; 120 countries in 130 means of transportation.
Upon his arrival in 1996, he decided to put together all his adventure, auto-motivation and business experience and founds Dreams and Adventures, specialized company in event organization, outdoor training and motivational speeches. More info available at www.dreamsandadventures.com
In 1997 he participates in the famous Paris-Dakar Rally. In the 7th leg he is forced to abandon his quest due to a sever crash that resulted in a collar bone fracture.
In 2002 he is awarded with the Catalan Tourism Medal, official award of the Catalan Government, Generalitat de Catalunya.
In 2006 he decides to achieve another unbelievable challenge. Crossing the Atlantic rowing solo without assistance.
January 2007 he departures from “La Gomera” on a rowing boat.
March 2007 arrives at Martinica Island after 94 days rowing in the Atlantic and becomes the first spanish person to row an ocean.
Later on in 2007 he receives the Guinness Book of Records Certificate as the First Spanish who has ever crossed the Atlantic Ocean solo and without assistance.
In 2008 he is awarded with the International Award Hazaña Deportiva del año issued by the spanish sports magazine “Marca”
Nowadays he is working as a speaker, event organizer and boat charter business man. He is currently working on two books he will soon release.