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Elderly British Sailor Crosses Atlantic on Raft
Fox News ^ | April 07, 2011 | ASSOC PRESS

Posted on 04/07/2011 9:52:03 AM PDT by a real Sheila

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten -- An 85-year-old British sailor who dreamed of crossing the Atlantic on a raft as a young boy completed the journey with three friends Wednesday.

The crossing to this Caribbean island, led by Anthony Smith of London, took about two months and was generally smooth except for damage to two rudders on the large, sail-powered raft.

"Some people say it was mad," he told The Associated Press when he

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Hobbies; Outdoors; Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: atlantic; british; elderly; raft
I loved this story. It shows you are never too old to follow your dream...
1 posted on 04/07/2011 9:52:08 AM PDT by a real Sheila
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To: a real Sheila
I thought it was some sort of Huck Fin style raft till I saw the pics. That was pretty nice for a raft. Fun trip.

Smith is wearing the hat.


2 posted on 04/07/2011 10:00:12 AM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: Lazlo in PA

Doesn’t look like it could handle too much stormy weather.


3 posted on 04/07/2011 10:06:43 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
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To: smokingfrog

How do you sink a floating log?


4 posted on 04/07/2011 10:12:05 AM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: All

Quadmaran


5 posted on 04/07/2011 10:13:59 AM PDT by troy McClure
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To: smokingfrog

The Vikings were traveling around in some pretty small stuff. At least this dude had the advantage of modern tech for navigation, weather forecasts and an SOS when the s@#t hit the fan.


6 posted on 04/07/2011 10:24:14 AM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: jwalsh07

It probably wouldn’t sink, but looks like it could be flipped pretty easily by a large wave.


7 posted on 04/07/2011 10:25:30 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
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To: a real Sheila
"There is nothing to be scared of. We were all old men."

I enjoyed this quote.

8 posted on 04/07/2011 10:28:40 AM PDT by Sax
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To: Lazlo in PA

No inflatable life rafts back then either.


9 posted on 04/07/2011 10:29:28 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
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To: a real Sheila

April 28, 1947: Kon-Tiki Sets Sail From Peru to Polynesia


10 posted on 04/07/2011 10:37:35 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
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To: jwalsh07

The logs wouldn’t sink but the raft might break apart in heavy seas.


11 posted on 04/07/2011 10:38:32 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: jwalsh07
"How do you sink a floating log?"

You get it Water Logged.

12 posted on 04/07/2011 10:41:26 AM PDT by Deaf Smith
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To: Lazlo in PA

That “raft” is bigger than my first house. Heck, the hut on that “raft” is almost as big as my first house.


13 posted on 04/07/2011 11:08:47 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Rose, there's a Messerschmit in the kitchen. Clean it up, will ya?)
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To: IYAS9YAS

I thought the same thing. I would not be too scared crossing the pond on that, depending on the time of year. Wouldn’t want to hit heavy storms with it. I see some of the scrap that some adventure freaks use in the ocean and see those “boats” as floating crypts.


14 posted on 04/07/2011 11:25:43 AM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: driftdiver

Actually they used nylon rathceting tie down straps and unlike Thor Hyerdahls ropes they held rather well for the entire journey. Technology is a good thing but I take your point. But at 85 I think the adventure factor outweighed the safety factor for at least one of the rafters. :-}


15 posted on 04/07/2011 1:03:28 PM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: jwalsh07

Ratcheting.


16 posted on 04/07/2011 1:05:16 PM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: IYAS9YAS

His raft has a big yard.


17 posted on 04/07/2011 1:06:52 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: jwalsh07

I’d ride the thing as long as it was the right time of year. Probably wouldn’t plan the trip with 3 other guys though. Sounds like it was Mr Howell, the Skipper and the professor.

Ginger or Mary Ann might make it a better trip.


18 posted on 04/07/2011 1:09:27 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: a real Sheila

I just found this. A good read.

http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2011/01/antiki-raft/


19 posted on 04/07/2011 9:18:14 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
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To: smokingfrog

THANKS!!!


20 posted on 04/08/2011 5:27:57 AM PDT by a real Sheila (Obama is probably a Muslim and is DEFINITELY a Marxist!)
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