Friday, March 12, 2021

A quick look at the Kon Tiki expedition- one of the great sailing adventures of the 20th century


The is the tale of a Norwegian who led an expedition to sail a raft across the Pacific, from Peru to the Polynesian Islands, to prove it could be done.  Anyone up for a 4,300 mile trip on an open raft?  Thor and his crew were, shortly after World War II.  

Today we know the Vikings made it across the Atlantic, to mainland North America, long before Columbus.  There are many who believe that Phoenicians, The Celts, The Chinese, The Polynesians, and maybe even Africans, all made it to North America long before Columbus.  There are a handful of artifacts, and much conjecture, about ocean travel in pre-Columbian times.  It's a great mystery unfolding in bits and pieces as time sails on.  

More than 70 years ago, it was assumed by scholars that ocean crossings were not possible by humans before the 1400's.  Adventurer Thor Heyerdahl thought the crossings were possible, and very likely in ancient times.  No one believed him, so he built a raft and sailed the Pacific in 1947 to prove the crossing was possible.  This is a short new piece promoting the 2012 movie about the story of Thor and the crew of the Kon Tiki.  Here's the 2012 documentary about the Kon Tiki (full length).  

Few may know, but there are some among the Chumash nation (Malibu area native tribe) that believe Polynesians sailed to this area, and traded with their ancestors.  

This blog is brought to you by Marvin Davits.  A fabricator with 30 years experience will, Marvin Loetterle, is available to mount dinghy davits on your boat or yacht.  

Call Marvin at (949) 500-0951

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