The Sea Dart Legend

"The Little Engine That Could" has nothing on Sea Dart.  This little lady has a colorful past and now with the help of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and people like you, it will also have a richly earned future.

Built in England in 1960, the Dart had its share of adventures with early owners, but the trip that would bring the boat world-wide fame, began in 1973 when she was purchased by adventurer Tristan Jones.

photo supplied by Ron Reil

With Jones at the helm, Sea Dart became the first boat to sail the Panama Canal (using hippies as the "sail"), the first vessel of its size to conquer the Humbolt Current and, most notably, the first ocean-going vessel to sail Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable water on Earth. After Titicaca Jones drug, pushed, hauled, sailed, floated and wrestled Sea Dart down the River Paraguay and across South America in an epic challenge that tested the resolve of what had to be one of the most obstinate, determined men who ever lived.

The account of Sea Dart's record-setting journey is recalled in Jones' popular book, The Incredible Voyage. Her further adventures, all of which took place on land, were set down in his book Adrift. Many of Jones' 15 other books also contain stories about his time on Sea Dart.

Copyright © 2001 - 2003 by Donald R. Swartz
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