Bas Jan Ader

[co256]

Just stumbled across this and thought I'd share it with all of you...

Ader was lost at sea while attempting a single-handed west-east crossing of the Atlantic in a 13 ft pocket cruiser, a modified Guppy 13 named "Ocean Wave". The passage was part of an art performance titled "In Search of the Miraculous". Radio contact broke off three weeks into the voyage, and Ader was presumed lost at sea. The boat was found after 10 months, floating partially submerged 150 miles West-Southwest of the coast of Ireland. His body was never found. The boat, after being recovered by the Spanish fishing vessel that found it, was taken to Coruña. The boat was later stolen.

 

[Gargleblaster]

Just half the size of 'Red Admiral', Guy.

Read Robert Manry's[?] book 'Tinkerbelle' on my way to the US this year. He crossed from Falmouth MA, to Falmouth UK in about 1968 in a 13.5 feet boat called 'Tinkerbelle'. No auto steering, used to heave to at night to sleep. Took him 90 days to complete. Basically a dinghy with a lid - he'd bought her as an open boat and put a cabin on her. He had to sleep curled into a foetal position because of the amount of stores he had. Used to ask passing ships for his position as he didn't trust his sun sights as he felt his platform didn't lend itself to the stability required for an accurate sight.

Reading books like that help me to understand why the minimum Jester limit is 20 feet. The west to east crossing is relatively straightforward with the wind, current and waves generally with you. I can't imagine doing the crossing in anything less than 20 feet from East to West.

 

[co256]

I know the feeling John, half the size of an 'already' small boat!

But then if Alessandro Di Benedetto can sail non stop around the world in a 21 footer, the Atlantic in under 20 feet ought to be possible........ no?!

All interesting stuff.

Bye for now,

Guy.