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Most people know about the infamous Captain Bligh and the mutiny on the Bounty in 1789. Many may also know that he and eighteen other crew members were put off the ship near Tonga in a 23 foot open-deck launch so heavily loaded that the gunwales were only a few inches above the water and were left to fend for themselves. They were given a few days supplies and survived by catching fish and drinking rain water. Bligh was an expert navigator, having honed his skills under voyages with Captain Cook, and with only a sextant and a pocket watch and no charts or compass, he navigated that little boat 3,618 nautical miles over 47 days to Timor with only the loss of one man who was killed by natives when the launch put in to Tofua for supplies. By any standards, the voyage was a miracle of raw navigation and it is now being recreated by four men who have set sail from Tonga in a 25 foot open-deck boat with two small sails. Like Captain Bligh and his crew, they are recreating the conditions faced over 200 years ago by taking only ship biscuits, pork, six bottles of wine and over 100 litres of water. They also will not be taking charts, compass or lights. Bligh’s voyage was outstanding by any standards and, hopefully, his feat will now be recreated by four very brave men. I wish them well.
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Captain Bligh, mutiny on the Bounty, Bounty, navigation,
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