- A Florida man is facing charges after constructing a “hamster wheel” vessel to cross the Atlantic.
- He informed US Coast Guard officers that his intended destination was London, England.
- This isn’t the man’s first attempt at such a maneuver, as he had previously tried it three times.
A Florida man has undertaken a unique and daring venture by constructing a boat resembling a hamster wheel, with the intention to cross the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. The US Coast Guard has recently charged him for his remarkable endeavor.
The charges against Ray Baluchi, also known as Reza, include obstruction of boarding and violation of a captain of the port order. A bond of $250,000 was set, which prohibits Baluchi from going near or boarding any vessel in the ocean, according to court documents.
An affidavit filed by a special agent from the Coast Guard investigative services provides details of Baluchi’s eventful journey at sea. As Coast Guard officers prepared for Hurricane Franklin on August 26, they spotted Baluchi’s home-built vessel, which he refers to as a “bubble,” approximately 70 nautical miles off the coast of Georgia. Upon approaching the vessel, Baluchi claimed to be sailing to London.
However, things took a turn when the officers discovered that Baluchi lacked proper registration for his craft and deemed his voyage to be dangerously unsafe. According to the affidavit, when the Coast Guard instructed Baluchi to leave his boat, he resisted vehemently. He even threatened to commit suicide with a knife and detonate a bomb if forced to disembark.
After three days of persuasion, Baluchi finally agreed to abandon the boat and was brought ashore on Friday.
Interestingly, this is not Baluchi’s first attempt at such an audacious expedition. The affidavit reveals that he had previously made similar voyages in 2014, 2016, and 2021. In an interview with WOFL-TV, Baluchi stated that his goal was to raise funds for various charitable causes through his sailing endeavors.
“My aim is not only to raise money for homeless people but also for the Coast Guard,” he expressed. “Despite being stopped multiple times, I never give up on my dream.”
Representatives for Baluchi and the US Coast Guard have not yet responded to requests for comment from Insider.
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