KON-TIKI TALES Thor Heyerdahl’s inspirational 1947 expedition
The Plastiki Food Story
The Kon-Tiki has been the key inspi very beginning – you may have not
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n 1947 Thor Heyerdahl and his crew of 5 departed from Peru on an inspirational journey across the Pacific on a Polynesian balsa wood raft, named the Kontiki. This vessel would take them through the Pacific following the historical trade winds for a distance of 3,770 nautical miles over 101 days. The Plastiki is also currently sailing the pacific with the help of the very same trade winds that powered the Kon-Tiki. We are even lucky enough to have some of the Kon-Tiki blood onboard Plastiki in the form of Olav Heyerdahl, the grandchildren of the Kon-Tiki expedition leader, Thor Heyerdahl.
iration for the Plastiki right from the ted the similarity in name for a start! The Plastiki is currently sailing the pacific with the help of the very same trade winds that powered the Kon-Tiki
H
owever, one thing that we don’t have in common with our earlier namesake is the construction materials. We built the Plastiki with innovative materials as a testament to the power of waste as a resource, whereas the Kon-Tiki used entirely traditional methods constructing the boat from balsa wood lashed together with hemp rope. We often receive comments on the small living space onboard the Plastiki and, while this is no doubt a challenge for our crew of 6, the Kon-Tiki shipmates may have faced even more problems as their living space was 14ft long and 8ft wide and built out of plaited bamboo with a banana-leaf thatch‌. open portholes were the least of their worries!
The Kon-Tiki used entirely traditional methods; constructing the boat from balsa wood & hemp rope
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he Plastiki has been stocked with locally sourced and carefully considered nutritious food including dried fruit and veg and canned wholesome meals. For the Kon-Tiki crew it was a rather different story; they took onboard a good collection of coconuts and sweet potatoes which supplemented the field rations and tinned food that was provided by the US army. The crew also had an abundant supply of fresh fish which they were able to catch easily whenever needed; unfortunately, the Plastiki crew have not been so lucky and have sighted very little sea life in their first 40 day leg of the journey. Although we do not know for sure how the Plastiki mission will end, we hope to avoid the same fate as the Kontiki, which was grounded on the uninhabited islet off Raroia Island after striking a reef.
The Plastiki has been stocked with locally sourced, nutritious food. For the Kon-Tiki crew it was a rather different story.
NOTES FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC Original Excerpts from Thor Heyerdahl’s notebook
The Kontiki museum have kindly provided us with some extracts from Thor’s original 1947 personal notebook including a rather tense description of the moment their journey came to an end on the Raroia Islet. Read more below…
19.05.1947 Breakfast: Flying fish, bread, biscuits, tea. Dinner: Ham and sundried potatoes, lima-peas, pineapple rice pudding, biscuits. Supper: Meat and noodles, tea, chocolate, coffee, biscuits.
11.05.1947 Thor and Knut were rowing the dinghy in the setting sun to film Kon-Tiki from afar. Suddenly the sea filled with life, tuna fishes, flying fishes, dolphins, “and a great flying-fish missed Knut’s face by a few inches while he smashed the little blue oar after a huge dolphin that bit at the oar blade as furious when he dipped it in the sea for rowing”.
1600 Observing at least 50 blue water-porpoises at just one side of the raft. They were all around the raft as far as could be seen from the top of the mast. 06.05.1947 10-20 dolphins seem to be accompanying the raft. “In the crystalclear water they can be seen in beautiful colours, bluish white with green back and orange-yellow tail.”
12.05.1947 12-15 dolphins chasing a great turtle that took refuge under the raft.
10:45 Shoals of 3-4 big whales came right up to the raft in turns. The biggest whales were longer than the raft. Shoals of porpoises as well. Whales and porpoises everywhere.
13.05.1947 10:15 “Oil spots observed here and there on surface all day. They seem to come up from the depth and spread from small drops”.
17.05.1947 Torstein used to sleep with his head in hut-doorway. At 04:00 he felt something “wet and cold dash desperately around his ears”. This was a long eel-like fish 94 cm long with huge black eyes. Had jumped onto the raft and right into the cabin and landed on Torstein. Bengt woke and said: “No, fishes do not exist”, and then he fell asleep again. Flying fish on board the Plastiki
18.05.1947 26 flying fishes found onboard the raft. 31.05.1947 “Only danger is when two waves of some strength co-operate in attack, one lifting up bow or port side to permit the other to break rapidly over stern or starboard. In such cases we had seas filling up Erik’s pots and pans on primus while
cooking evening meal, others dashing on wall of bamboo hut and into book-shelves and mattresses. Once water dashed in during dark night hours, one voice suggested to ‘call the plumber’.” “When a wave washed over Thor, bamboo fishing-rod with line and a bag of canned food lying beside him disappeared into the sea. The bamboo rod was seen floating about 300 yards astern, when it suddenly raised on end and came by itself rushing back to raft. When getting nearer, we saw that a 10 foot shark was swimming underneath in the water. The shark had swallowed the food-bag and somehow got the line between its teeth. Our rod sailed around raft for 2 hours before disappearing ahead of bow”.. 19.06.1947 Fishing for sharks with bare hands: “Thor again got hold of tail, this time with both hands and pulled of all strength, pressing shark’s bottom against stern log when finished. Hanging head down shark ceased fighting to our great surprise. Holding shark in this position for a while, Thor finally pulled shark onboard alive after tail without assistance of ropes, clubs or harpoons.”
Fishing for sharks with bare hands: Thor finally pulled shark onboard alive without the assistance of ropes, clubs or harpoons.
21.06.1947 “Torstein fished small dolphin for dinner. We just pick them up any time we need them, they are everpresent and plentiful.” 03.07.1947 “Erik on night watch suddenly saw big area of sea that was luminous like of plankton packed in a solid mass. Sea disappeared in one place, then rose again in another place full of light. He next observed this luminous unit move from stern to port side, then approached raft. Suddenly Kon-Tiki was sailing in midst of 400 square yards of light in the sea. Way down under us he saw hundreds and hundreds of lights round in shapes moving in all directions amongst each others. He woke Bengt that was to take over next watch, and they were both equally amazed. Circles seemed to be quite deep, and those higher up were about 2 feet in diameter, lightning even in shade of raft so they did not reflect the moon.” 04.07.1947 The pet-crab Johannes: “Since we lost our parrot our main pet has become a little brown crab with white design on its back, that lives in little hole in one log near steersman’s foot. When we bend
down, the crab named “Johannes” runs out, and when he holds some biscuit crumbs, fish or canned meat between fingers Johannes comes and scratches it from us, then happily carries it to his hole and starts eating by putting claws to mouth like a human. If the piece is too big Johannes puts it in the hole first, then sits on top of it. Other crabs with different colours come out to look, but somehow Johannes has become our pet.” 14.07.1947 “We have now travelled as far on Kon-Tiki as the length of the earth’s radius.” 14.07.1947 “Erik says that cruises like this on the broad Pacific on a safe and open raft under the stars, could solve many world problems if granted to the worn down people from noisy cities. So many false problems get minimized and one gets time to settle down and think and realize that life should be more than money. Many primitive people had one ahead of us there.” 15.07.1947 “In this moment I hear the cook (Knut who loves fish but does not catch them) ask Thorstein who
test with 40% sea-water, and made same strong discovery. We wonder whether certain feelings of thirst are not real thirst at all but a need of salt in warm weather?”
Torstein fished small dolphin for dinner. We just pick them up any time we need them, they are ever-present and plentiful. catches but doesn’t but doesn’t eat them: “If you pull in a fish I’ll give you bacon for lunch”.” 15.07.1947 “Today was one of those rare days when we feel thirsty all day long. I was drinking regularly off my fresh-water bottle, but got no satisfaction, and could have continued drinking only to feel filled up and uncomfortable. Then I mixed 20% sea-water in cupful and found taste refreshing as well as I quenched my thirst by doing it. Then Herman made completely parallel
16.07.1947 “Time is money upon our return, and expedition funds are not too impressive. We have a total sum of US$50 when we land in Polynesia, but I figure that my news-paper stories have brought in more cash to continue the fight.” “I cannot help feel sharks are quite pleasant creatures to have around as long as we don’t get mixed into their jaws.” 20.07.1947 “At breakfast big sea came just as Thor had filled dry cereal in cup, and cereal was filled with sea-water. 2/3 fresh water was added, and this mixture proved to have no taste of ‘ocean’, but was actually refreshing and better tasting than cereal in fresh water.” 21.07.1947 10:15 Herman is thrown overboard and swims desperately to keep up with the raft. “As they reached stern they saw two men head above sea now about 50 feet behind end of
steering-oar. Knut had grasped Life-west (which he could not get thrown out against wind and backwhirls) and jumped into the sea with it, swimming towards Herman who crawled with all his power to keep up with the pace of Kon-Tiki in very rough seas. Knut’s brilliant manoeuvre saved all further dangers for all of us, as Herman finally got hold of life-vest too, and they were both pulled safely onboard.”
22.07.1947 “A shoal of nearly a hundred whales came up to Kon-Tiki. They were about 4 to 6 metres long and the water boiled around the raft as they emerged 4-5-8 in one chain, circled up, sniffed air and dived often with great splash. The big black mammals dived under raft so close that they must have gone between centre-boards in many cases, and if we had had a good hand harpoon left
we could have thrusted it right down into them. The animals came up to us both from port and starboard stern, many swam under us intentionally and emerged on other side. They also swam right under steering-oar. All of them left after about 10 minutes on a track towards the west.”
unintended drift (impulse). In every single of our dealings between us and the sharks, it is us that have been the brutal attacker.”
25.07.1947 13:00 “As we were told by radiocontact with Los Angeles that our developing water was too warm thus spoiling all Erik’s film, we asked our refrigeration engineer Herman to produce cold water. He took carbondioxide from the useless first dinghy, where a little proved to be left in dinghy. With pots and pans and sleeping bags he suddenly arranged a regular snow-storm on the foredeck and obtained a can full of water that was so cold that the bottom froze to solid white ice. Mixing this into our 80* F water he obtained exactly 68* F as prescribed from Hollywood. The two films developed turned out perfect!”
30.07.1947 06:00 “Full moon during night. Constant frigate-bird cry all night. Watchman on nearly constant lookout in mast top. Nothing seen till daylight starts. Herman and Bengt on watch. From deck in twilight Herman discovers Puka-puka in the East. He comes in as usual, shakes Thor’s legs so he wakes up, and says: “Now you can come out and have a look at your island.” Bengt woke up too, and the three of us went out on deck looking.”
26.07.1947 “It may sound crazy, but we really like the company of sharks. They seem stupid, strong but cowardly and if they should happen to attack it is not of evil intentions but just of
27.07.1947 “Song and music till late night, as we train to amuse Polynesian visitors.”
07:40 “Strong scent of freshly cut wood and forest. Sudden strong wind carries this scent over to us for a period of about 15 min. After 3 months and one day at sea our noses are very sharp, and I was personally sitting in the mast top enjoying the island scent like a child, refreshing old memories of Polynesia.” “It is now full moon and wonderful
South Sea atmosphere. Sitting on the mast top, one’s shadow is very marked on the canvas-covered roof of hut where it dances wildly around, once in a while to rush right out over the side of the raft where shadow is outlined on white floating foam. No bird-cries.” 01.08.1947 “Mast are starting to move sideways in big seas now, probably because the 2 respective logs on which they rest move independently in the seas. That is marked now. The movement of the masts cause strong wearing of the ropes at the top and the noise can be heard all over the raft.” 03.08.1947 13:55 Alongside Angatau: “Phantastic vegetation of beautiful bushy plams in deep green with brown and yellow shades and round bushes at three feet above the wide beach. Erik is doing an excellent job supervising and directing sails and steering. Knut and Torstein astern working whenever we turn to cross other way. Bengt made dinner, ate and served us, then went in and took his regular nap. To me it is the greatest moment in all my life. Knut is just exclaiming that he does not believe it is true.” 17:30 “We drifted parallel with our
course and would miss point. Six men Kon-Tiki and two Polynesians sat down on port side of raft and paddled to check drift. Wind increased. For some time we checked drift, then saw we could not make it. Two Polynesians went ashore with canoe to get more help. Three more canoes joined them, and with ropes lashed to their tiny plank canoes, nine Polynesians paddled to pull us ashore. Knut joined the team with dingy. Sail was now lowered. Sunset. All natives had first been over to us, gotten cigarettes and hand-greeted each of us. It was a phantastic moment with petrol lamp on the foredeck, 5 men of us paddling, divided on each side of raft with team of one dingy. 4 canoes pulling us in pitch dark by rope. Natives ashore lit big fire to guide us. There was singing and shouting in many languages, laughing and high spirit all over.”
Masts are starting to move sideways in the big seas now, probably because the two respective logs on which they rest move independently
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04.08.1947 21:30 “Knut obtains direct radiocontact to Norway full strength with radio-amateur Christian Amundsen, Stabekk near Oslo. Long message to all families that was stuck between Los Angeles and Norway was now sent directly without repetition. Kon-Tiki is at present on the very opposite side of the earth from Norway and our battery driven transmitter has an output of about 7 Watt. Frequency was 13 940 Kc/s. They use only worn down batteries every day soldered together in different way with increasing numbers.” 07.08.1947 The raft is heading for the coral reefs of Raroia. “Have to pack away diary by now. We are all in best spirit but realize the danger. But we will make it! “Last order before action were: hang on to raft. Hang on to raft whatever happens and never dream of finding a better solution then to hang on to our firm logs. We should hang on until raft was tossed through main inferno, then jump up on coral reef.” “Anchor was let loose by Herman who stood beside lashing. Then we went up and up and I remember that I in the absence of any other idea waved one hand and shouted:
‘Hurrah! Here we go, hurrah!’ Hoping we should all get through it with a smile and determination, I caught a glimpse of Thostein, who smiled all over his face and then an immense green wall of water closed in high over my head and all was gone.” “Then many tons of ocean broke in over us. I disappeared first and the other boys say that the green wall stretched about 8 meters above the bow and about 5 meters above my head when it engulfed all. They were seconds I shall never forget.” “And the roaring inferno thundered ahead, over, over, and revealed to me a horrid sight that is imprinted upon my memory for all my life. With one stroke like from the hand of a magician Kon-Tiki was suddenly enchanted to a wreck. In one second our proud craft was no more, and could never more be what it was.” “I did not see Bengt, who had got a blow in his forehead from the falling mast.”
WE HAVE MADE IT. THANKS GOD! We have gone through an inferno no ordinary craft would have mastered with crew alive.