Frenchman Makes Progress Crossing Atlantic in Barrel
French adventurer Jean-Jacques Savin is several days into his attempt to cross the Atlantic in a specially-built orange barrel. With no engine, sails or paddles, the unusual craft relies on trade winds and currents to push him 4,800 kilometers from the Canary Islands to Caribbean in about three months. Shortly after casting off, he reported good weather and a speed of 2-3 kilometers an hour. He described his journey as a “crossing during which man isn’t captain of his ship, but a passenger of the ocean.” Savin spent months building his bright orange, barrel-shaped capsule of resin-coated plywood that is strong …