Team Seacats

It’s been a while since we had a new entry in the Notably Nutty arena but I found a good one.  Meet Mr. George Kourounis.  George is a videographer/ photographer who is part of OLN’s (Outdoor Life Network) feature series “Angry Planet“.  He seems to have an innate curiosity that drives him just a little further than most.  Here we see George paddling out on a lake of sulfuric acid with a PH of 0.5 (about that of a typical car battery’s acid)

that’s right, it’s a volcanic lake….of….acid.  Here!, watch it eat an aluminum can!

George suffers from his own nuttiness and the acid from his paddle drips on his pants and burns his skin….he had to cut them off.

In all reality, George probably belongs less in the notably nutty category than most that have been placed here.  He is an admirable person that has talent and goes many places…but still, paddling on an acid lake?  Seriously?  See more about George and his adventures on his website www.Stormchaser.ca

I’m sitting on my couch with a sinus infection that’s attempting to push my eyeballs out of my head so I recognize the fact that I may not be approaching this with all of my faculties intact. Does this belong in “Noteably Nutty” or should we create a new category for “What in the hell?”. This was found over at the Sail Away Ladies blog

Could this be Seabiscuit 2!? I found this recently dated image on a website about Kristopher J. Harley but it didn’t mention anything about it. I think our friend has not given up on his intentions to sail a 10′ boat around the world. It does look like he’s reconsidered his previous, ummm, design (link to previous Team Seacats blogs).

Kristofer J. Harley speaks out about what really happened during his failed launch of Sea Biscuit. Personally, I think that planning a three day departure window from the North West US/Canada in order to clear the “Mexican Hurricane Season” is a little short sighted for such a vessel. Click the image and read on.

An excerpt from Duckworks Magazine:

“Before I could dry her out, the tide was already rising again. It was now that I made the decision to take her home on the trailer. It would allow proper repairs with more cloth and epoxy and wouldn’t use up underwater epoxy intended for emergency repairs at sea, but I had now lost my window. The Mexican hurricane season was already starting, and I had already wasted too much time. I called my Wife, Chuck at Duckworks Magazine, and David of The Captain Humphreys Project and told them the sad news. We had lost our chance at a 2006 departure.”

Duckworks Magazine

One more post on our buddy Kristofer J. Harley. The folks over at Duckworks magazine have setup some sort of fund for Harley to help him get his boat back home and, I suppose, prepare for round two. It seems that they’ve already raised over $1000 US dollars. I think there are certain admirable qualities about Harley and his ambitions – especially in the environment of so many nay-sayers. However, I’m not sure that further supporting his round the marble trip is such a great idea for his own well being. Make up your own mind and contribute if you care too over at the Duckworks Site. After all of this, I have taken away at least one golden nugget that I’m sure to use in the future; “aaawww shoot…a little goo will do!”.

From the Duckworks site:

Location of SV Sea Biscuit – Kristofer J. “Harley” Harlson, Capt

Here is the latest news on Harley:

I talked to Harley on the phone this evening (Friday, the 25th of August) and he was in good spirits. I was able to tell him that through the generosity of family and friends, we had deposited almost a thousand dollars into his account. He seemed genuinely humbled and thankful.

Harley told me that he had been in touch with his former employer and was able to get his job back. In addition, he fully intends to maintain his dream and will make another attempt next year.

-Chuck-