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Tom McClean Planning A Whale Of An Adventure

21st February 2016
Tom McClean's self-built whale boat 'Moby' in Ardintigh Bay Tom McClean's self-built whale boat 'Moby' in Ardintigh Bay Credit: John Haynes/Geograph

#Offshore - He's prepping to cross the Atlantic in a self-built boat the size and shape of a 60ft sperm whale.

But that's not the only remarkable thing about Irish-born, British-bred adventurer Tom McClean, who's profiled by Vice's Joe Banks regarding his storied and eccentric achievements.

McClean endured a tough childhood before joining the British Army's Parachute Regiment and later the SAS, taking him to some of the farthest flung places on earth.

He's perhaps best known for his attempt to assert Britain's claim to Rockall, camping out on the rocky outcrop in the cold North Atlantic for 40 days back in 1985.

But he was also an early pioneer of solo Atlantic crossings, setting out on his first such adventure completely unassisted – and with no offshore rowing experience – in 1969.

He's repeated that feat numerous times in different vessels. And in his latest planned effort, at the age of 73, he will do it in Moby, the self-built whale boat he's already sailed around Britain and is hoping to fit out with electric motors to pioneer zero-carbon sailing.

Vice has much more on the story HERE.

Published in Offshore
MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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