Vital Alsar
| Vital Alsar | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Vital Alsar Ramírez August 7, 1933 Santander, Cantabria, Spain |
| Residence | Veracruz, Mexico |
| Nationality | Spaniard |
| Occupation | Explorer |
| Years active | 1966 – present |
| Known for | Crossing the Pacific Ocean by raft |
Vital Alsar Ramírez was born on August 7, 1933, in "Calle Alta" in Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
His entire life has been linked to nature and the sea. He became professor of economics, although he never acted as such.
During his Military service in Morocco, Alsar read a book about the Kon-Tiki, the expedition that Thor Heyerdahl conducted a balsa raft on the Pacific. Reading this account led to his interest in duplicating the feat, to sailing 3,770 nautical miles (4,340 miles).
After his military service, he lived in France, Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Canada. It was in Canada where he met Marc Modena, who would be his traveling companion.
Between 1966 and 1973, Alsar led three expeditions by raft across the Pacific Ocean, from Ecuador and Australia. The first expedition failed, but the second and third succeeded, both setting the record for the longest known raft voyages in history - 8,600 miles (13,800 km) and 9,000 miles (14,000 km). The first took place in 1966, using a simple raft, La Pacífica. The voyage was cut short by damage caused by teredo worms in the wood of his raft, which sank after 143 days - Alsar being rescued by a German ship. A second attempt in 1970 on a new raft, La Balsa, successful, and reaching Mooloolaba after 161 days and 8,565 miles (13,784 km). A third voyage in 1972 featured three rafts. They reached the coast of Ballina, Australia after 179 days at sea (one of the three floundering in Australian waters).
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Wikipedia