Alain Bombard

Alain Bombard (born October 27, 1924) is a French biologist and physician who is famous for sailing across the Atlantic Ocean in a small boat.

Alain Bombard was born in Paris. He theorized that a human being could very well survive the trip across the ocean without provisions and decided to test his theory himself.

On October 19 1952 Bombard began his trip from the Canary Islands heading across the Atlantic for the West Indies accompanied by a British aide Jack Palmer. They sailed in a Zodiac rubber boat called l'Hérétique, which was only 4.5 meters long, taking only a sextant and almost no provisions.

Bombard and Palmer survived by fishing with a self-made harpoon and harvesting the surface plankton with a small net. They also drank 3 liters of seawater every day. In the first days of the journey Bombard had to mend a torn sail and the humidity caused an uncomfortable itch.

In the 53rd day of the journey they encountered a ship. The crew told them that they were still over thousand kilometers short of their goal. However, after the ship's crew offered him a meal, Bombard decided to go on.

Bombard and Palmer reached Barbados December 23 1952 after 4400 km of travel. Bombard had lost 25 kg and was briefly hospitalized. He published a book about his trip in 1958.