This Saturday there will be a special celebration at the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the historic Las Balsas Transpacific Expedition.
The Ballina Museum, which is behind the library in Regatta Avenue, was specially built to accommodate a complete vessel, now the centrepiece of the display, built from the best pieces of the three large balsa rafts which survived the voyage from Ecuador to Australia in 1973, complete with mast and hand-painted sail.
Twelve men of seven nationalities completed this marathon adventure over 14,000 kilometres at sea, proving the theory that ancient South American civilisations could have traded or migrated across the Pacific to Polynesia and beyond.
Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki expedition from 1947, by comparison, travelled only 8,000 kilometres.
Las Balsas was Captain Vital Alsar’s second attempt to cross the Pacific, after the first expedition came to grief in 1970 near the Galapagos Islands.
Navigation was done without the use of conventional rudders or modern instruments, The rafts were built using ancient technologies, hand-carved and joined with ropes, instead of bolts or nails.
Food was prepared and preserved according to styles of centuries earlier, supplemented by fish caught on the way.
Success against the odds
Slowly sinking most of the way, the three balsa rafts dealt with storms and rogue currents to cross the Pacific without the loss of any of the men on board.
Although the plan was to land further north, in the end it was Ballina that would welcome the mariners to Australia.
The raft voyage was big news in 1973, with the men being entertained by Ballina locals and some travelling south to meet Gough Whitlam in Canberra. A film was made about the expedition which can still be seen at the Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum.
While most of the rafters left the country after the adventure, some remained and made new lives in Australia.
One of the great global adventure stories of human history, the 50th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on what the rafters achieved, and speak to one of the veterans of the voyage, original raft veteran Fernand ‘Fern’ Robichaud. Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader will also be speaking at the celebration.
New members of the Ballina community and visitors are most welcome.
Celebrations on Saturday 18 November will begin at 11am, and go until 2pm. The Ballina Shire Band will be performing, along with music from local ukelele group The Paradise Pluckers.
There will be coffee and cake, as well as the Rotary BBQ, and face painting for the kids.
A gold coin admission is requested to assist the work of the Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum.
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