Pensioner’s ambitious bid to sail across Atlantic from Spain in a barrel

JEAN-JACQUES SAVIN, a 71-year-old French adventurer, has set off in a barrel-shaped orange capsule to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Jean-Jacques departed from El Hierro in Spain’s Canary Islands yesterday (December 26).
The Frenchman hopes to reach the Caribbean in the next three months.
He plans to drop markers during his journey to help oceanographers from the JCOMMOPS international marine observatory study Atlantic currents.
The vessel, equipped with a sleeping bunk, kitchen and storage, measures three metres long and 2.10 metres across.
The capsule, weighing 450 kilograms, has been built to resist strong waves and potential attacks by orca whales.
There is also a porthole in the floor that will allow Jean-Jacques to observe passing fish.
The French adventurer told AFP news agency that he had ‘high hopes’ for his 4,500-kilometre journey.
He has an estimated budget of €60,000 to cover expedition costs that was largely raised through crowdfunding campaigns.

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