Alex Bellini
Alex Bellini (born in Aprica, September 15, 1978) is an Italian explorer known to the public for his extreme adventures, including rowing solo across oceans.
Sporting Adventures[edit]
In November 2000 Bellini ran the New York Marathon in 3 hours, 52 minutes.[1]
In April 2001 he participated in the Marathon des Sables in the Moroccan desert, running 250 km in stages: the equivalent of six marathons[2].
In February 2002 he participated in the Alaska Ultrasport Extreme: about 600 km in walking distance, pulling a sled the entire time.
In February 2003 he returned to Alaska for the Ultimate Alaska Impossible: about 1400 km in walking distance. He finished in third place, completing the journey in approximately 27 days[3]
On October 10, 2004, he began his first rowing adventure across an ocean. This was named: Alone 2004. Starting from Genoa (Italy), his first attempt ended 5 hours after departure due to adverse weather conditions. Leaving 11 days later with French Guyana as his target, he began the journey once more. On his 23rd day of sailing he was shipwrecked on the island of Formentera due to the extreme winds of the mistral.
On September 18, 2005, with a new fiberglass boat weighing 700kg, he began his journey from the quay of Quarto (Genoa - Italy) with the goal of reaching Fortaleza (Brazil). He finally arrived after 226 days and 11000 km at sea, fighting hunger and every unforeseen natural circumstance. During the voyage, he endured five days of fasting before reaching the small archipelago of St. Peter and St. Paul, in the middle of the Atlantic. The extraordinary crossing brought about 58000 euros in sponsorship from generous donors, helping with the construction of a childcare centre in Brazil.[4]
In February of 2008, he began his solo rowing adventure across the Pacific Ocean[5][6]. The voyage was to begin in Lima (Peru) with a final destination of Sydney: roughly 18000 km. On December 12, 2008, only 105 km from completing his epic crossing, Bellini stopped rowing, and asked for support from a New Zealand tugboat[7], which led him to New Castle. The decision to end the mission was taken in consideration of the savage weather conditions that were closing in and would seriously endanger his safety.[8]The journey had been monitored by live radio links from Caterpillar's Radio Rai Radio 2. Despite the early stop, the Pacific Ocean crossing was nonetheless certified by the Ocean Rowing Society as "completed".[9]
In June of 2011 he participated in the LA-NY footrace, walking from Los Angeles to New York, across the United States: over 5300 km, along with another 18 competitors[4]. Running for 70 days[10], only eight competitors crossed the finish line, Bellini ranking fifth, with an impressive time of 746 hours, 28 minutes and 49 seconds.[11]
In 2017, Bellini accomplished yet another feat: crossing the Vatnajokull[12]. The Vatnajokull, the largest ice cap in volume in Europe, found in Iceland, was crossed by skiing and sleigh in 13 days. Alex completed the 180 km journey on February 4th.[13][14]
Alex Bellini is the author of three books: Mi chiamavano Montanaro (ed. Longanesi 2007), Alone across the Pacific Ocean (Italian ed. Longanesi 2010) and l’Avventura e l’impresa (Ed. Marsilio 2013).
References[edit]
- ↑ http://www.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/95185.1.063498305772930394
- ↑ https://www.rt.com/news/272092-italian-traveller-iceberg-challenge/
- ↑ "Iditarod Trail Invitational - Nome". www.alaskaultrasport.com.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.redbull.com/za-en/this-man-plans-to-live-a-full-year-on-an-iceberg
- ↑ https://grapevine.is/culture/2017/11/02/husavik-explorers-festival-2017-through-fire-and-ice/
- ↑ https://www.outsideonline.com/1965166/how-giant-ball-will-help-man-survive-year-iceberg
- ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/3741464/Italian-rescued-65-miles-short-of-rowing-Pacific-Ocean-solo.html
- ↑ "Multimedia". www.lastampa.it.
- ↑ "The Ocean Rowing Society". 28 September 2011.
- ↑ https://www.ecowatch.com/alex-bellini-2470193708.html
- ↑ "Alex Bellini conclude la "Los Angeles-New York Footrace 2011" con il supporto di Jeep".
- ↑ "Crossing Iceland's Biggest Glacier".
- ↑ https://www.redbull.com/it-it/alex-bellini-traversata-in-solitaria-del-ghiacciaio-vatnajokull
- ↑ http://www.iflscience.com/environment/meet-the-man-whos-going-to-live-in-a-capsule-on-an-iceberg-for-a-year/all/
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