Grandfather, writer and adventurer Anthony Smith and his three-man crew – aged from 56 to 61 years old – arrived yesterday at St Martin in the Caribbean, having safely sailed 3,000 miles across the second largest ocean in the world.
During their 66 days at sea the crew battled bad weather, broken rudders and freight boats sailing too close for comfort. They also baked fresh bread every day, studied plankton with their onboard microscope and last week celebrated Anthony's 85th birthday with a chocolate cake and a tin of pineapple chunks!
The crew have also raised thousands of pounds for WaterAid, which works with some of the world's poorest communities to improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.
Anthony, former BBC Tomorrow's World TV presenter and science correspondent, who developed the An-Tiki project, said: "We are looking forward to eating fresh food and enjoying some of life's little luxuries again. But the excitement is tinged with some sadness as the arrival means saying goodbye to our trusty partner, the good raft An-Tiki, who has so steadfastly looked after us on this journey.
"We'll also miss the incredible sights and sounds of life at sea, sunrises and sunsets, incredible wildlife, the camaraderie and that special space and solitude that ocean-goers come to love."
John Russel, 61, from Gloucestershire, wrote on the An-tiki blog: "I have to admit that I did have some concerns before setting out, but am really glad that I came on the adventure, and it has been absolutely mind-blowing and wonderful. I cannot use enough superlatives, and would not hesitate to do the same again."
7 April 2011
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