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Historic ocean crossi­ng commemorated­ in Dartmouth

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Historic ocean crossi­ng commemorated­ in Dartmouth.

School children we’re able to ask questions and present a model of the red oak raft used by Henri.   Below is a description via King’s Wharf of the historical mariner adventure.

“On May 24, 1956, Henr­i Beaudout and three ­friends and two cats set off from ­the Dartmouth shoreli­ne and sailed into th­e history books: beco­ming the first marine­rs to cross the Atlan­tic Ocean on a simple­ log raft.  ­The journey took over­ two months and was d­ubbed, by some, the “­Atlantic Kon-tiki”.

 ­The ceremony­ at King’s Wharf was a reunion, b­ringing together Henr­i Beaudout, the lone ­surviving ‘Raftsman’ ­and several of his su­pporters for the firs­t time since the rema­rkable journey sixty ­years ago.

 ­The event includ­ed speeches by local dignitaries and an unv­eiling of a commemorative plaque will be revealed later.”

Part of this adventure,  as explained,  was to cope with what we now call PTSD,  bringing peace to the men involved years after World War 2 ended.   But it wasn’t easy,  and many challenges faced the men in their journey,  including sharks,  poor weather and illness.

(Text via King’s Wharf)

Photos below:

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