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A 72-year-old French man has crossed the Atlantic in a giant orange barrel

popularmechanics.com

21–30 of 32 posts

Re: A 72-year-old French man has crossed the Atlantic in a giant orange barrel

#22
post #2

"giant barrel" is clickbait. It's a (unpowered) boat that externally looks a bit like a barrel. "measures about 10 feet long and seven feet wide and includes a small kitchen and bed, and space for storage."

Look at the photo, it's hard to describe that as anything but a barrel: https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_634,c_fill,g_auto... In particular, it lacks any conventional boat elements like a method of propulsion or steering. He is clearly milking the label for all it's worth though, the GPS tracker ID was "diogene" (French for Diogenes of Greek philosopher living in a barrel fame) and his sponsors included sev…

The plan shows this had a keel though.

Re: A 72-year-old French man has crossed the Atlantic in a giant orange barrel

#24
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look at the photo, it's hard to describe that as anything but a barrel: https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_634,c_fill,g_auto... In particular, it lacks any conventional boat elements like a method of propulsion or steering. He is clearly milking the label for all it's worth though, the GPS tracker ID was "diogene" (French for Diogenes of Greek philosopher living in a barrel fame) and his sponsors included sev…

The plan shows this had a keel though.

What does that do?

Maybe allow choice of current, like where it forks?

Re: A 72-year-old French man has crossed the Atlantic in a giant orange barrel

#25
post #7

As almost always is the case the CNN article is light on details. Popular mechanics is slightly better - with some eye candy. I have to say a 72 year old man crossing the atlantic in a unpowered vessel is amazing. Good for him. https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/a2739616...

> As almost always is the case the CNN article Maybe CNN knows that its audience don't want technical details??

More like conditioned to avoid technical details.

(Not happy with CNN these days)

Re: A 72-year-old French man has crossed the Atlantic in a giant orange barrel

#26
post #24
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The plan shows this had a keel though.

What does that do? Maybe allow choice of current, like where it forks?

I suspect the keel attempts to stops the barrel from rolling on it's axis.

If it had a tendency to easily roll it would be like trying to live in a giant tumble dryer.

Re: A 72-year-old French man has crossed the Atlantic in a giant orange barrel

#27
post #24
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The plan shows this had a keel though.

What does that do? Maybe allow choice of current, like where it forks?

stabilization, to avoid getting upside down all the time, he could have used ballasts as well

Re: A 72-year-old French man has crossed the Atlantic in a giant orange barrel

#29
post #2

"giant barrel" is clickbait. It's a (unpowered) boat that externally looks a bit like a barrel. "measures about 10 feet long and seven feet wide and includes a small kitchen and bed, and space for storage."

Look at the photo, it's hard to describe that as anything but a barrel: https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_634,c_fill,g_auto... In particular, it lacks any conventional boat elements like a method of propulsion or steering. He is clearly milking the label for all it's worth though, the GPS tracker ID was "diogene" (French for Diogenes of Greek philosopher living in a barrel fame) and his sponsors included sev…

>the GPS tracker ID was "diogene" (French for Diogenes of Greek philosopher living in a barrel fame)

In that case I am slightly disappointed that the voyage was undertaken without the barrel also containing a pack of feral dogs. The resulting footage would be worth it if nothing else.

Re: A 72-year-old French man has crossed the Atlantic in a giant orange barrel

#30

> including a rough sea that forced him to leave the barrel and navigate difficult waters from outside his cozy confines Where was he? sitting at the top of the barrel? or on another accompanying boat?

'navigate' ? How ?
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