 |
Alfred EnsenFirst to cross the Atlantic solo under sail
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Biography of Alfred Jensen
- The Decision to Sail Solo
- The Construction of the Dory
- Setting Sail
- Conquering the Ocean
- Harnessing the Winds
- The Journey's Challenges
- Encounters with Other Ships
- The Journey's End
- The Legacy of Alfred Jensen
Biography of Alfred Jensen
Alfred Jensen was an American fisherman who became known as the "Crazy Dane" for being the first person to solo-cross the Atlantic Ocean under sail. He opened the era of solo transatlantic voyages and paved the way for other brave seafaring adventurers.
The Decision to Sail Solo
In December 1875, in the town of Gloucester, almost all the fishermen gathered in a saloon. It was here that the fate of the first solo transoceanic voyage under sail was decided. Alfred Jensen, a young Danish man who had settled in New England, announced his intention to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone in a small fishing boat called a dory. Jensen had spent many years fishing on these small but seaworthy vessels in the North Atlantic. He was known for his fearlessness and his willingness to venture out into the ocean in any weather conditions.
The Construction of the Dory
Undeterred by the skepticism of his fellow fishermen, Jensen began building his dory. He named it "Sumaschtny Dane" and constructed it from oak and Canadian pine. The boat was 6 meters long and 1.7 meters wide, with a 4-meter mast carrying about 15 square meters of sail. There were two additional sails that could be attached to the bowsprit, bringing the total sail area to about 20 square meters. The dory had a deck under which various equipment and food supplies were stored. It was equipped with cast iron ballast and had a slightly larger false keel than typical fishing dories. Despite the doubts of the fishermen, Jensen remained determined to embark on his solo journey.
Setting Sail
On June 16, Jensen left Gloucester and headed northeast. In Sack Harbor, Nova Scotia, he completed the outfitting of his dory and on June 25, 1876, he set sail, heading east. His journey would span 2,500 miles across the vast Atlantic Ocean. Jensen packed three months' worth of provisions and fresh water, as well as a compass, sextant, chronometer, nautical charts, and a log for navigation. However, deep down, he believed that he could reach the opposite shores of the ocean relying solely on his experience and simple fishing navigation methods.
Conquering the Ocean
The first week of the journey proved to be incredibly challenging. Jensen battled a fierce storm for five days and nights, barely sleeping and struggling to keep the dory's bow against the waves. It wasn't until the sixth day that he was able to dry his soaked clothes and prepare a hot meal. The wind then shifted and started blowing in a favorable direction, allowing him to make speeds of up to five knots. South of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, Jensen sailed past Sable Island. However, the weather soon deteriorated again with one squall after another. Nevertheless, he persevered, making progress eastward.
Harnessing the Winds
Upon entering the zone of favorable westerly winds, Jensen harnessed the breeze with a large square sail called a "briefoc." This allowed him to make 100-mile daily crossings. By the end of the second week, he encountered a Turkish three-masted ship whose captain offered to take Jensen and his dory on board to the European coast. However, Jensen refused this offer as well. On July 7, Jensen found himself at 41°50' N latitude and 54°0' W longitude. Here, an English bark noticed him, sailing from Mexico to Liverpool. The English crew offered assistance, but once again, Jensen declined to become a passenger on a larger ship.
The Journey's Challenges
A month into the voyage, Jensen had already passed the halfway mark. The weather was not favorable, often necessitating reducing sail area during frequent, gusty winds accompanied by rain. Sometimes he had to anchor to keep the dory's bow against the waves. When the sun finally appeared after a prolonged period of gray ocean, Jensen spread his provisions on deck to dry, having turned into a soggy mess by that time. He had to discard a significant portion of the supplies.
Encounters with Other Ships
On one sunny day, the third ship approached Jensen. It was a large German steamship. The captain and passengers attempted to persuade Jensen to abandon his audacious journey or at least take on fresh supplies. However, Jensen merely laughed and said, "I am going to the other side." While trying to catch a bottle thrown from the steamship's side, Jensen fell onto the dory's deck, nearly capsizing it. After spending so much time in the cockpit, his legs felt weak.
As storms continued to rage, Jensen lowered the sails and anchored the dory. This day almost became his last. The violent swells were so severe that Jensen was thrown overboard by a fierce gust of wind. Fortunately, he was saved by a safety line he had tied to the mast. The dory, however, took on a significant amount of water. After bailing out water, a weakened and bloodied Jensen patiently waited for the storm to pass. When the ocean finally calmed down, he reassembled the surviving mast and sails. Despite losing the main square sail during the storm, along with the freshwater and food supplies, Jensen's determination remained unwavering.
The Journey's End
On August 2, on the 39th day of his voyage, Jensen encountered an English brig 300 miles off the coast of Clear Island, Ireland. For two hours, the dory sailed alongside the brig. Suddenly, a storm struck. The first fierce gust of wind threw Jensen overboard, but he was saved by the safety line tied to the mast. The dory, however, was flooded with water. The storm continued to rage with unrelenting force. After the storm subsided, Jensen pumped out the water and re-rigged the mast and sails. But during the storm, he had lost his main square sail, along with all the freshwater and food supplies.
On August 7, an American brig named the Enoch Train approached Jensen. It was heading from Liverpool to Baltimore. This time, the intrepid seafarer reluctantly agreed to replenish his supplies with fresh bread and water.
On August 9, Jensen entered the St. George's Channel. Ships became more frequent along his route, requiring him to be constantly vigilant, especially at night, to avoid collisions with other vessels. During those times, not all ships had running lights.
Finally, after 46 days of battling the Atlantic Ocean, Jensen reached the shore near Cape St. Davids, close to the village of Abercastell. After resting for two days, he continued his journey to Liverpool and independently sailed into port, refusing the assistance of a tugboat or pilot.
The Legacy of Alfred Jensen
Upon his return to Gloucester, Jensen was hailed as a hero by his fellow fishermen, who proudly called him the "Crazy Dane." His solo voyage not only commemorated the centenary of the United States' independence but also brought fame to the fishermen of Newfoundland and their remarkable dories.
Inspired by Jensen's achievement, more and more adventurers embarked on solo transoceanic voyages. They traversed routes much longer than Jensen's, crossing two or even three oceans at faster speeds, sometimes on sailboats much smaller than Jensen's dory. However, it is important never to forget that Jensen was the first. He paved the way for future solo ocean crossings and inspired countless others to pursue their own extraordinary journeys.
