Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition
Here’s another incredible expedition about to kick off. I think it’s a fair bet to assume everyone is familiar with the story of Capt. Bligh and Fletcher Christian including the incredible open boat voyage of over 3,700 NM following the mutiny. (Quick side note: I found The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty by Caroline Alexander to be one of the best books on the story)
Graphic courtesy of Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition
It turns out that an incredibly brave group of adventurers lead by Don McIntyre are going to recreate the voyage this April which marks the 221st anniversary. They’ve built an exact replica of the Bounty’s anchor boat and will be navigating with authentic octant, sextant and time pieces purchased for the journey. Some of this gear belongs in museums. Although they’ll have emergency gear, food, and the necessary kit regarded by maritime law, they intent to keep the journey as authentic as possible.
Replica of Bounty's Anchor boat. Photograph courtesy of Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition
Here’s the announcement from their website:
April 28, 2010 Marks the 221st anniversary of the Mutiny on the Bounty, when Fletcher Christian cast William Bligh and 18 of his men adrift in a 23ft open boat, which marked the beginning of one of the greatest open boat voyages in maritime history. During the following seven weeks, Bligh and his men sailed over 3,700 nautical miles, in an overloaded boat, with little food or water and no charts, from Tonga to Kupang in Timor. It has become more than legend and will provide massive returns on Google.
On that same day, in the same place, at the same time, Australian adventurer Don McIntyre, Mike Perham and two other crew, will relive Bligh’s nightmare, by attempting to sail the same voyage under similar conditions, no charts, no toilet paper, not enough food or water, in an 18th century traditional open timber whale boat. McIntyre is not new to adventuring, but this challenge is like nothing he has experienced before.
This should prove to be a grand adventure and as someone who grew up on this story I can’t wait to follow them. The official website can be found here and they plan to post updates on the journey on their blog. Apparently their major sponsor is Talisker the producer of single malt Scotch. Now how did they pull that off?
Close up of main sail. Photograph courtesy of Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition
Here’s wishing them gods speed and fair winds!
