Escaping the recent horrors of World War II, thousands of veterans and civilians in the 1950s sought respite and freedom out at sea in small boats. They include a stream of now famous single-handers such as Edward Allcard, Ann Davison, and Sir Francis Chichester. Over in the Pacific Ocean, a solo voyage by a DIY fisherman-carpenter-mechanic was no less extraordinary, yet it is now barely remembered in sailing histories. This man’s reasons were less about post-war escape and more about returning home and earning pride for his family and community.
Born in 1918, Florentino Resulta Das grew up on the island of Samar in the Philippines, the son of a man who ran a 60ft ferry. Florentino grew up learning from his father, helping him build boats, and marvelling at his ability
