He was A French NAvy doctor. Young. He analyzed alot of shipwrecking stories and came to the conclusion that people on open seas died mainly of fear. Not of lack of water and provisions. He decided to prove his point. In 1952 he took 4 meter rubber boat, called Heretic, and took with him just emergency supply of food to which he did not touch. He cross Atlantic in 65 days. Lost 25 kg. Not pounds. Ate plankton and squeeze flying fish to get water. He found out that fish consists of almost 80% water. And was not salt water. Also, he taught himself to drink ocean water ina very small portions not to block his kidney. He almost died from terrible storms, for 3 days bailed out water from his leaking ship, suffered from dehydration . Most difficult problem he had experienced when he met passenger transatlantic steamer. All the world knew about his joourney. And he was invited to step on board of the steamer. He was greeted as ahero ( about half of way through the ocean) and everything went pretty smoothly until he did not smell fresh baked bread. It was too much even for this strong will man. He ate just a piece of it. This was too much for his stomach used for days of diet of squeezed fish juice and plankton. The pain was absolutely terrible. And to help it-a stron storm was coming. He needed to manage his boat, its sail, bailed ot, etc. He was 99% dead. But he made it. He proved the point. You can survive, not luxury living, but survive without almost anything. Fascinating life. He supposed to sail with another guy, Palmer by last name. But in the day of departure Palmer did not show and that's it. And by the way, Alain started his journey day his daughter was born.
For navigation, Bombard, who was an ace celestial navigator, took only his sextant.
For navigation, Bombard, who was an ace celestial navigator, took only his sextant.