No one believed it would succeed: the brave six and the raft of Kon-Tiki beat the Pacific Ocean – Life

But this is not a film fiction, but an actual and almost amazing expedition that is 28. April 1947 led by Norwegian researcher and ethnologist Tor Heyrdahl (Thor Heyerdahl).

Heyrdal sailed on wooden rafts Kon-Tiki From Peru towards Polynesia to prove its theory: that the Precolumbian peoples of South America could take up to remote Pacific islands of primitive vessels, despite limited technology of that time. Most experts at the time then considered that idea of ​​frivolous, and travel – impossible, writes Punkufer.hr.

From rejection to a great expedition

Heyrdal came to this theory during his stay on the island of Fat Hiva, when he concluded that Polynesia could not be inhabited exclusively from the West.

As evidence, he also stated the legend of Kon Tiki Virakoča, Chief, who, after her devotation, sailed from Peru to an unknown on the rafts made of balse wood. When he presented his theory to American anthropologists, he was ridiculed.

One of them told him, « Let’s see how long you’ll arrive at the rafts from Peru to Pacific. » Heyrdal realized it as a challenge.

Raft, crew and start of adventure

He first had to find the crew. This proved simpler than he expected – five brave companions brought together soon. Together, they first traveled to Ecuador, where they procured the bazil wood, and then in Peru – the homeland of the legendary figure of Kon-Tiki.

The raft built from nine main bazows and pine logs, 13.5 meters long, tied with hemp rope. The US military have obtained navigation equipment, radio stations, sleeping bags, food cans and other travel equipment.

One Norwegian, Gerd Wold from the Embassy in Washington, voluntarily applied as a secretary of the expedition and had the task of coordinating communication between crews on rafts and teams on land.

The crew consisted of: Knut Haugland, Bengt Danielsson, Erik Heselberg, Torstein Rabi and Herman Watzinger – all squads extremely brave and ready for challenges. Heyrdahl met with Vatzinger by accident in New York – was a thermodynamic engineer who studied cooling systems in the United States.

Erik Heselberg was a heyrdahlov a close childhood friend, the only sailor among them, with five years of experience in the merchant navy. In addition to operating the raft during the trip, he was also artistically talented, so he painted a recognizable sail of Kon-Tiki.

Knut Haugland was a work, known for herunatic in World War II in the Norwegian city of Rjukan, and he saved Herman Watzinger from drowning. A similar war experience was Torstein Rabi, also courageous and capable of severe conditions.

Bengt Danielson was an anthropologist from the University of Upsala and showed great interest in Hierdahl’s theory of migration. He was the sixth member of the crew and the only one who spoke Spanish, which was extremely useful during the expedition.

Along with them, parrot named Lorita – cute, but unfortunately, the only member not returned from the road.

The raft was constructed from the debate of balse and pine, 13.5 meters long, tied with a rope.

They had the most basic equipment – radio station, basic instruments for navigation, water and food supplies (coconuts, sweet potatoes, cans), as well as tents and sleeping bags.

Interestingly, none of them knew that the sails or had experience with the raft management, except Hesselberg who had maritime training. Still, they rose in Eastern winds and Humboldt’s sea electricity to take them to the finish line.

Travel for a long 7,000 kilometers

Kon-Tiki sailed 101 days to the ocean, crossing almost 7,000 kilometers with an average speed of about 1.5 knots. Although many claimed that the raft will sink in ten days, they arrived until the Polyna’s Raroi’s Polyna in August 1947. years – and proved that journey ancient rafts is not just a myth.

Heyrdal described the entire expedition in the book « Kon-Tiki », which was translated into more than 70 languages. In 1951, the documentary filmed by the Oskar was recorded, and 2012 and the Film Film, which is considered one of the most expensive film projects in the history of Norway Cinematography.