Aleksander Doba’s First Sight at the Land after 3.5 months

“We have found “OLO” at first light this morning, just south of St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. Looking in top shape Olek was pleased to see us on a lovely summer day, but he is keen on to move on to mainland France.

Aleksander Doba’s First Sight at the Land after 3.5 months

By Piotr Chmielinski

– “We have found “OLO” at first light this morning, just south of St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. Looking in top shape Olek was pleased to see us on a lovely summer day, but he is keen on to move on to mainland France. Some 100 nautical miles south.,” writes Alan Hartwell, Deputy Harbour Master , Isles of Scilly near Cornwall.

Aleksander Doba, traveling in his kayak from the US to Europe, after three and a half months of paddling the Atlantic, saw the land for the first time! The winds that had pushed him north made him approach the Isles of Scilly, west of the coast of England. He paddled along the islands of Samson, New and Old Grimsby, St. Agnes and St. Mary’s. It was there that he was found by A. Hartwell, who at my request went in the motor boat to search for Olek to meet him, and above all, to ask if the kayaker needed any help, like – for example – fixing not working battery on the kayak, which Olek mentioned about in the previous texts.

The basic question however, was whether or not Olek wanted to end his trip in Cornwall. Getting to England already fulfills the Third Transatlantic Kayak Expedition basic assumption , which was to reach Europe. However, Aleksander Doba aimed to reach the continental Europe and …. he is holding onto that goal.

– “I’m going to France!”, he told me in the telephone conversation shortly after meeting with Alan’s crew at St. Mary’s. – “Neither help nor battery replacement are needed”.

He only agreed to pilot him to slightly quieter waters where he could rest for a few hours and prepare for the challenge of the English Channel.

“OLO” has been tracked by the British Coast Guard until it enters a zone under jurisdiction of French Coast Guard, that is already waiting for an incdredible traveler from Poland.