Haitien sailboat being loaded - Amazing video

Jeez - reminds me of the early 1980's when I was with a mate in the rural south of Turkey on a very heavy Yamaha 1100cc motorbike which we were touring on. It was time to head back to the UK so we decided to try island hopping across to the Greek mainland rather than re-trace our steps using the land route through Istanbul.

Unfortunately Turkey and Greece were having a border dispute at that time (probably over Cyprus but I don't remember) and we were told that it was not possible to cross to the Greek islands on any of the minor routes. However, the local bar owner who had befriended us arranged with a friend of his to transport us across to the nearest Greek island under cover.

When we arrived at the boat it was a small pleasure boat with no loading ramp. When I asked how we got the bike on board he laid out a wooden plank about a foot wide and 6 foot long and chucked it over the 2 foot gap between the boat and the pontoon. Easy, he explained - just don't try to stop on the way over!

That was one test of riding skill I decided not to take and I graciously declined their very kind offer!

Richard
 
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