So near, yet so Far!
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AFP) - An Italian adventurer who spent 10 months rowing 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles) solo across the Pacific was upbeat Saturday despite needing to be rescued heartbreakingly close to his goal.
Alex Bellini had been at sea since leaving Lima, Peru on February 21 and had expected to reach Australia on Saturday -- becoming only the fifth person to complete the journey which spans almost one-third of the globe.
But as fierce storms battered the Australian east coast Friday, Bellini's wife telephoned authorities to say her husband was 65 nautical miles (120 kilometres) from land, was nearing exhaustion and needed help.
"I'm not disappointed. I'm not disappointed at all," he told AFP.
"I've been not able to reach land... but the crossing has been made."
The Italian, who has now completed the longest solo row in history at 295 days, said he was happy with his achievement.
"I didn't put the cherry on top of the cake," he said. "But the cake is very good, very big and I will never forget about it."
Asked why he allowed himself to be rescued so close to the end, a gaunt and tired-looking Bellini told Sky News: "I was so close but... the forecast for the night was so bad... so I decided with my team's support to ask for a tow to land."
1)he ordered KFC
2)probably a kayak
3)no only tourists' and private yachts
4)why sail to japan when you can sail to australia
1) Hmmm...what food did he bring the whole 295 days?
2) What boat is he using? He says he's rowing, so...
3) Did he ever bumped on any of the oil tankers at sea?
One thing's for sure...an Italian leaving Peru using the most old-fashioned immigration. LOL
4) Why choose Australia?
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach