Well it is a pretty fancy barrel, but what the heck. Reminds me of the 1950s when they advertised Florence Chadwick swimming the English Channel. There was a car dealership in Chicago who regularly promoted his dealership by having people try and swim across Lake Michigan. Jim Moran the Courtesy Man if I recall correctly. Here is the story and the link:

Most people spend the day after Christmas relaxing with their families. But one man began a journey across the Atlantic in a barrel.

Navigator Jean-Jacques Savin, of France, is currently floating somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean in nothing more than a bright orange barrel. He hopes to reach the Caribbean in three months, by the end of March, propelled only by ocean currents.

"The goal? Maybe to prove that I've still got it." Savin told the AFP news agency.


He hopes the currents will transport the barrel from his starting point in the Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa, to somewhere in the Caribbean. He doesn't know exactly where he'll end up, but he's hoping for a French island such as Martinique or Guadalupe.

"That would be easier for the paperwork and for bringing the barrel back," he said.

Savin is no stranger to adventure. He's a former military parachutist who has also worked as a park ranger and a pilot. According to his website, he's already crossed the Atlantic four times by sailboat. This time, he envisioned "a crossing where the man would not be captain of his boat, but passenger of the Ocean."

He worked on the vessel for months before beginning his trek. Inside is six square meters — about 65 square feet — of living space. The barrel weighs 990 pounds when empty and includes a sleeping bunk, kitchen, and storage area. Each side contains a porthole, including one on the floor to allow Savin to look at passing fish.


But he hasn't given up on luxury completely. Stowed away is a block of foie gras and a bottle of Sauternes white wine for New Year's Eve, along with a bottle of red Saint-Emilion for his 72nd birthday in January.

During the journey, Savin will drop markers for the international marine observatory organization JCOMMOPS to help its oceanographers study the currents. Scientists will also study how solitude and close confinement affect him.

Even his wine will be subject to observation. A Bordeaux onboard will be compared to one kept on land after the trip is over.

Though Savin is traveling solo, the whole world can follow along on the journey. He's tracking his progress online and posting daily updates and GPS coordinates on his Facebook page.

LINK:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/71-year-old-man-is-trying-to-cross-the-atlantic-ocean-in-a-barrel/

Thanks.

Sounds like a miserable way to spend 3 months.

Attention whoring taken to new heights.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
"The goal? Maybe to prove that I've still got it." Savin told the AFP news agency.

Got what? A few screws loose?

Now up to 1002 ways to die

Such bravery.

That's one way to get away from the old battleaxe for a few months.

quote:

That's one way to get away from the old battleaxe for a few months.

Yep. Sounds like he will be checking in with her as well. Who knows what motivates someone like this. At his age attention seeking seens unlikely. The article could have done a better job of exploring his background in greater detail.

How do you poop in a barrel? Seems like it would get pretty smelly in that thing after a few days.

guessing he has some kind of support ship?
Not sure how much food you could store? You could have enormous storms. Like 50' 60'waves or more. I dunno. Not sure survival is even 50-50. I know people have survived in a lesser vessel with virtually no supplies or planing. But

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
That's one way to get away from the old battleaxe for a few months.

Ha ! no kidding. I think he is a philosopher. At 71 I think he's exactly where he needs to be. Godspeed to him including hurricanes, plate tectonic shifts, great white sharks and rogue superwaves. Sickly romantic too.

It would be something to be out there all by yourself.

I remember the first time I crossed the Atlantic Ocean. I was a bit concerned and I had 5000 of my closest friends with me.
No way I would do it alone and in any single vessel.

There's no fool like an old fool.

If you really wanna to impress, do that in an actual barrel!

He'll use a bung to stop up his bung hole, but how will he stave off hunger?

I guess he'll hoop for the best.

I'm sure he has back up and support... but the problem with the plan is it is really hard to actually come close let alone land on one of those islands just floating in the ocean even with currents.

Now only if the barrel was half full of bourbon