Saturday, December 31st 2011 - 18:43 UTC

A Malvinas war veteran dies in an attempt to cross to the Falklands in a kayak

A Malvinas war veteran drowned in an attempt to reach the Falkland Islands in a kayak from Ushuaia while his companion was rescued by an Argentine Navy patrol and is in hospital in a state of chock, reported the Buenos Aires press in the last day of 2011.

Alejandro Daniel Carranza was an experienced kayaker who managed to collect 30.000 dollars from sponsors for the expedition

Alejandro Daniel Carranza, 49, who fought in Mount Longdon wanted to challenge the ocean and reach the Falklands in a kayak for which he trained for months, but the rough sea and winds defeated him.

Carranza had planned the crossing to the Falklands for several years together with his friend of adventure, Juan Pablo Dacyszyn, 36, another kayak professional who managed to survive swimming to safety at the Isla de los Estados where he took refuge for a day and a half in a cave before he was rescued.

Alejandro and Juan Pablo were professional kayakers; they had state of the art equipment and given their backgrounds had managed to collect 30.000 dollars from sponsors for the adventure. They had left Ushuaia on 6 December and had so far covered 800 kilometres along the west coast of Tierra del Fuego and were preparing to climb along the east coast.

“First of all we want to make plain clear that this expedition is purely a sports event and has no political intention or implies any sovereignty claim to the Islanders or their authorities” Carranza had written in his blog, Delfindelmundo a Malvinas.

However the first leg of the expedition, from Ushuaia to the Isla de los Estados, at the tip of Tierra del Fuego across from the Strait of Le Maire, ended tragically when a spat of bad weather in one of the most dangerous sea crossings plunged him to the sea. Frankilin Bay is to the west of the emblematic lighthouse at the End of the World.His partner Juan Pablo survived and contacted a rescue centre. The navy patrol ‘Francisco de Gurruchaga’, after three attempts finally reached him in spite of the terrible weather conditions and transported him and the body of Carranza to Ushuaia.

In his blog Carranza wrote that “War was a stupidity, we have to make friends again with the kelpers. The only way to recover the (Malvinas) Islands is by rowing. I’m not going to see it, nor my son, but I have hopes that one of my grand children will. This is the spirit that drives me in the expedition”.

“Physically he’s fine but he remains in a state of shock, he doesn’t quite understand what really happened”, said Hector Daniel Vera, the officer in charge of the Coast Guard station who rescued Juan Pablo.

“He told us they left with good weather and then an unexpected gale started to blow. He survived because he was well equipped”, said the Coast Guard officer.

Juan Pablo took refuge in a cave ten metres above sea level where he had good clothing, food and communications equipment.

Carranza’s autopsy confirmed he drowned but it is believed he suffered a blow and fell to the sea. An official judicial inquiry has been opened.
 

38 comments Feed

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1 saphira (#) Dec 31st, 2011 - 07:04 pm Report abuse
His poor family so terribly sad
2 Hands Off (#) Dec 31st, 2011 - 08:52 pm Report abuse
Bloody hell. Why the heck would you attempt that? What does it mean by: The only way to recover the (Malvinas) Islands is by rowing. ?
3 yankeeboy (#) Dec 31st, 2011 - 08:55 pm Report abuse
As I said before....they're not a smart people...
4 Islas Malvinas (#) Dec 31st, 2011 - 10:13 pm Report abuse
2 & 3

To achieve something by “rowing” is an expresion that means that it requires a big effort and that it´s not an easy thing to do. Althouth I didn´t read what he posted, I´m sure this is what he meant.

Learned something new? You smart boys?
5 Kelper San (#) Dec 31st, 2011 - 10:23 pm Report abuse
I don't have the same dream as he did, but as the man said
“First of all we want to make plain clear that this expedition is purely a sports event and has no political intention or implies any sovereignty claim” So I would like to think “we as Falkland Islanders” will not disrespect him by doing so, I offer my Deepest Sympathy to all of his Family.
6 Beef (#) Dec 31st, 2011 - 10:29 pm Report abuse
Salute, anyone who pays the ultimate sacrifice trying to accomplish a task of such magnitude deserves respect. Rest in peace soldier.
7 dreyfoss (#) Dec 31st, 2011 - 10:49 pm Report abuse
I am astonished that such an attempt was even concieved. Any body who knows the area is aware that the wind is predominantly from the west so they would be pushing their little boats into it and into a sea that is at best quite rough at this time of the year as the wind is consistent in summer and the water temeprature is never above 6c and terrible winds can arise at any moment.
The great English explorer Earnest Shackleton sailed a tiny boat with five other men from Elephant Island in the Antarctic to South georgia in 1916 after having become stranded after losing his ship the 'Endurance' in the Ice flows.
The journey in the little boat took 16 days to sail 800 miles in the worst imaginable weather and cold but Shackleton and his men survived and then walked over the mountains of South georgia to a Whaling Station from where they were eventually taken to Chile and from Punta Arenas Shackleton was given a small tug-boat called the Yelcho with which he sailed all the way back to Elephant island to rescue the rest of his men.
It is impossible to imagine how he did all this and nobody will ever be able to reconstruct this incredible journey under the same conditions of ice and storm.
8 Wireless (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 03:21 am Report abuse
There was a reconstructed journey attempt a few years ago, using a small boat made to the same design, and even though it was accompanied by a film crew on what was basically a large modern lifeboat support vessel, the small boat was overwhelmed less than one third of the journey completed, and the crew attempting it were taken taken off by the support vessel.

Shaclketon and his men would not have had such an option, and would have bailed virtually constantly, and I understand the small boat rolled completely over on a number of occasions; very brave men.

I'm sure it was a BBC commissioned programme, but it might have been an independent, it should be on DVD.
9 Hands Off (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 04:11 am Report abuse
#4 I've learned your frigging stupid! Read the article before you make comment.
10 Frank (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 05:29 am Report abuse
@7 'Any body who knows the area is aware that the wind is predominantly from the west so they would be pushing their little boats into it......'
Dreyfuss... you don't by any chance work in 'planning and logistics' with the ARA?? The Falklands lie NE of Isla Estados....

but apart from that what you say is correct... not a place blessed with a long enough weather window to make a 180 mile open water voyage in a kayak..... the word 'foolhardy' comes to mind.

Very sad
11 dreyfoss (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 07:36 am Report abuse
10 Frank (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 05:29 am Report abuse

“ Dreyfuss... you don't by any chance work in 'planning and logistics' with the ARA?? The Falklands lie NE of Isla Estados....”

Frank. I do not wish to make you look silly but I suggest you look at a map of area:
www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/south-america/
But if you are correct then the Falkland islands according to you are now somewhere around Punta Arenas LOL.
12 Frank (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 07:49 am Report abuse
Yep... Falklands lie NE from Le Maire.... Punta Arenas lies NW... I think something may have been lost in the translation here.... a muddle with the oestes and estes

I read that Delfindelmundo a Malvinas blog. It appears that all they were attempting this summer was a trip around Isla Estados... the Falklands trip was planned for summer 12/13.
13 stick up your junta (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 09:07 am Report abuse
Remembering the secret mission of Cockleshell Heroes
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12914628

Just saying
14 dreyfoss (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 10:18 am Report abuse
I stand corrected. I forgot we orientate our maps facing south not north which means the wind prevails from the east - which means anybody sailing from Tierre del fuego will be sailing into the wind.
15 Hands Off (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 11:31 am Report abuse
How could this not be a political stunt? Two ex-Falkland war soldiers trying to make a heroic voyage to a disputed territory? Did the FI even approve their entry into its waters etc? I assume the plan was to land on New Years Day and usher in a new age for the lost Argentinians. As others have already said, this is very sad.
16 Wireless (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 12:06 pm Report abuse
You orientate your maps South? Do your compasses also point South? Genuine question.

In addition, I believe someone tried to kayak from Australia to New Zealand a few years ago, he didn't make it either, and he recorded video, not sure they found the body, but they recovered his equipment.
17 Pirat-Hunter (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 01:19 pm Report abuse
stupid is as stupid does, This can only prove that even the retards in Argentina can ride a kayak.
18 ChrisR (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 02:44 pm Report abuse
17 Pratt-Junta

You really have exceeded your previous stratospheric levels of idiocy with this post.

The men were professional kayakers, one survived, one did not.

I think they set themselves an extremely difficult task and one man paid the ultimate price, but you can admire their courage.

My respects to their families.
19 xbarilox (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 04:11 pm Report abuse
Another murder for Cristina, Carlos Soria, the Governor of Río Negro. Three dead politicians in a row, perhaps is this what she means with “I want your blood” :P
20 Conqueror (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 04:24 pm Report abuse
Has Alejandro Daniel Carranza proved that he was courageous but stupid? Should that be a pointer to the Argentine national character?

Note his words “War was a stupidity, we have to make friends again with the kelpers. The only way to recover the (Malvinas) Islands is by rowing. I’m not going to see it, nor my son, but I have hopes that one of my grand children will. This is the spirit that drives me in the expedition”. First sentence is fine. The rest is brainwashed garbage. You can't “recover” something you never legally owned. Bit like a burglar breaking in to steal the family silver and then going back to “recover” the candlestick he dropped during his escape.

It is such a shame that generations of Argentines have been brainwashed into being mindless automata. Pavlov's dogs. Ring a bell and they expect to be fed. Argentines? Say “Malvinas” and watch the blind, unthinking nationalism.

As a thought, did he have FIG permission to enter the EEZ?

Nevertheless, from here in Britain, condolences to his family.
21 Kipling (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 07:08 pm Report abuse
GRANDE LULA!!!!! For my dear Friend, if anybody has any question of Brazil possition of Malvinas, pleas, look at this
www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=IvHJKwEvypY
22 briton (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 09:21 pm Report abuse
21 Kipling , you are that desperate, you are sliding inder the quicksand of ignorence, to post such crap on this blogg to gain fame is dammed of you,
show some rspect if you can,
he may have been foolish, but brave all the same,
R.I.P
23 Pirat-Hunter (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 11:11 pm Report abuse
18 if stupidity is considered courage I am glad there is one less idiot in Argentina.
24 Hands Off (#) Jan 01st, 2012 - 11:27 pm Report abuse
This disaster is a good metaphor for Argentina.
25 Kipling (#) Jan 02nd, 2012 - 12:40 am Report abuse
22, any question of this (21)? kakakakakak
26 xbarilox (#) Jan 02nd, 2012 - 12:53 am Report abuse
@ 23 what happened? Now the malvinists are idiots?
Die Grubertaler will cheer you up :)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FOh0P_eEOM&feature=fvwrel
27 Kipling (#) Jan 02nd, 2012 - 01:53 am Report abuse
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBG7MpOapu8
28 Valle Ricardo (#) Jan 02nd, 2012 - 03:29 am Report abuse
23 Pirat-Hunter (#
There is another one gone in my home town. This guy put a rocket in his mouth for a xmas party trick. Lit it and it flew down his neck and then exploded in his throat. All in front of the guests. This is the true macho argentine.
I for one long for a day when we can educate people without the government indoctrination programs.
I checked the name of him and unfortunatly it wasn't O googaa...shame,
29 Sergio Vega (#) Jan 02nd, 2012 - 03:36 am Report abuse
R.I.P. Mr. Martinez Boero, a brave man but too much optimistic.....the challenge was extreme and a not reponsible goal, even for a proffesional team.
Anyway, my respect and condolences to the family.....
30 Frank (#) Jan 02nd, 2012 - 08:06 am Report abuse
@16 regarding 14.... this reminds me of an old Goon Show where they marched south from London to invade Scotland....

I don't think Drefuss knows which side is up......
31 Britishbulldog (#) Jan 02nd, 2012 - 10:23 am Report abuse
Whenever someone takes on a venture as this man and his companion did, there is away an element of risk and unfortunately, this man made the ultimate sacrifice. Just for once, it would be nice for the usual rhetoric that we write about on this site to be put aside in respect for the family of this person on BOTH sides. My condolences to the Alejandro Daniel Carranza family.
32 Artillero 601 (#) Jan 02nd, 2012 - 03:16 pm Report abuse
@31 well said !

Que en paz descanse.
33 Widget Maker (#) Jan 03rd, 2012 - 06:51 am Report abuse
If you look at his website you will find that for this trip he was paddling from Ushuaia to Staten Island (Isla de los Estados).

findemundoamalvinas.com.ar/index.html

The trip to the Falklands was being planned for next year using a special 'kayak' designed for open ocean.

Never believe anything you read in the news.
34 Hands Off (#) Jan 03rd, 2012 - 12:05 pm Report abuse
They obviously had a chip on their shoulders about the FI. That chip ended up sinking them.
35 Pirat-Hunter (#) Jan 03rd, 2012 - 04:10 pm Report abuse
if this guys was Argentine he could have never made it to fakland island because they don't exist in South America they are located in UK according to britards.
36 Valle Ricardo (#) Jan 05th, 2012 - 03:55 pm Report abuse
-----The UN says otherwise.
37 row82 (#) Jan 07th, 2012 - 02:56 am Report abuse
35 Pirat-Hunter -

No prat, they are in the South Atlantic.

He wanted to “make friends with the Kelpers” and that says it all. He was probably murdered by the Kirchiner government, who are only interested in making enemies of the Kelpers... something incidentally which serves British interests, not Argentine.

But you retarded nationalist morons can't see this.
38 jayD (#) Jan 07th, 2012 - 03:00 am Report abuse
@ 4 Islas Malvinas

It has a picture for you morons to understand but obviously not enough.

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