La Balsa, Mooloolaba Harbour, Mooloolaba, 6 November 1970

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TitleLa Balsa, Mooloolaba Harbour, Mooloolaba, 6 November 1970Additional InformationMichelle in bikini, interpreter behind ladder talking to Gabriel Sales from Chile. (Source: written on back of original photo in album)

La Balsa (Spanish for The Raft), featured a balsa wood and hemp rope built structure, to which was attached two hardwood masts, to support a square canvas sail. In contrast to the oar used for steering on Kon-Tiki, the La Balsa featured a hardwood moving keel board (known as Guaras in Ecuador) which allowed it to be actively sailed toward favourable currents, rather than drifting.

The voyage was to be from Guayaquil in Ecuador. Alsar had recruited Marc Modena, a Frenchman and Norman Tetreault a Canadian, and with work already begun, they were later joined by Chilean student Gabriel Salas. The crew was also joined by a stowaway cat named Minet, whom they called the "fifth crew member."

The La Balsa expedition lasted 160 days, starting in Ecuador on May 29, 1970, and ended at Mooloolaba in Australia on November 5, 1970.

The 8,600 mile (13,800 km), voyage was, at the time, the longest in known history.

Following the expedition, the raft was taken on a road tour of Australia, being displayed in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, before being shipped to Spain.Date6 November 1970PhotographerKevin FreemanImage NoT4000319

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Subject (Keywords)Boats

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PersonMichelle FreemanFamilyFreeman Family

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CopyrightThis image may be used for educational and non-commercial research purposes. It must not be reproduced for any other purposes without the prior permission of Noosa Library Service.

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La Balsa, Mooloolaba Harbour, Mooloolaba, 6 November 1970

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La Balsa, Mooloolaba Harbour, Mooloolaba, 6 November 1970