Man To Make Second Attempt To Travel In Bubble

April 14, 2016

[Updated] Reza Baluchi — who was rescued by the Coast Guard in 2014 while attempting to travel 1,000 miles to Bermuda in a bubble — is attempting to travel to Bermuda again today, according to a story by the Sun Sentinel.

He set off from Florida, but was “pushed back to shore by the wind” last night, however apparently plans to give it another go today.

The story said “If at first your bubble bursts, try, try again, and again, as Reza Baluchi found out Wednesday.

“The endurance athlete and Pompano Beach resident went out to sea with his homemade ‘hydro pod’ floating bubble in the hopes of reaching Bermuda, only to be pushed back to shore by the wind Wednesday night.

“Baluchi’s publicist, Candace Rojas, said that despite his plan being gone with the wind Wednesday, he planned to give it another go Thursday.

“First I’ll go north to Jacksonville, go east to the Bermuda Triangle, to Bermuda, come back to Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico, coming back to Key West and finish here, exactly the same place,” he said.

“Baluchi said he expects to spend between 21 and 45 days in the water. To prepare for this fantastical journey, Baluchi said he has been jumping rope for an hour each day, in a sauna, and has been running on the beach.”

Video of the Coast Guard rescuing him in 2014

After his rescue in 2014, Mr Baluchi said he “was not asking for rescue”, and the “transponder button was struck accidentally while receiving a gift from a passing fishing boat” and once the Coast Guard arrived he “had no choice but to leave” the hydro-bubble

The cost to the Coast Guard to mount the rescue operation in 2014 cost $144,000, and according to the Sentinel’s report, Mr Baluchi said, “They say if they come and rescue me, I’ll have to pay $120,000.

Audio of the Coast Guard speaking with Mr Baluchi in 2014 warning him of the dangers of his “human powered” travel

“But I don’t pay money, I raise money. I have a satellite phone, a GPS tracking device, I don’t need rescue. I’m Captain Bubble,” he said.

A sign on his vessel is meant to ward off any potential interference from the Coast Guard or other authorities. It reads, “Don’t burst my bubble please.”

Update 1.27pm: According to the Sentinel, earlier today Mr Baluchi said “the wind was pushing me back to the west” and he plans to wait for better weather” and will “give it three days.”

Mr Baluchi has apparently “been a bit cagey” about his exact departure time because he doesn’t want authorities trying to stop him.

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Comments (28)

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  1. aceboy says:

    This idiot won’t give up until he is dead. If a bit of wind blew him back to shore on Wednesday what does he think will happen in a squall 500 miles at sea? He is doomed.

    • Raymond Ray says:

      Granted, I wouldn’t attempt doing it at all! But as they say, “your not a failure when you try and fail but you become a failure when you fail to try”
      May the winds be behind you and the sun in your face Mr. Reza Baluchi.

  2. Toodle-oo says:

    It’s all well and nice to have an adventurous soul but there comes a point when one just has to realize that what they’re attempting to do is pointless and dangerous .

    I hope this doesn’t turn out to be a failed and fatal rescue attempt by innocent agencies who are probably shaking their heads right now .

    • HA HA says:

      I’m sure they once said this about going to the moon, but hey you know….

  3. Full Fuulish says:

    Food and water storage?

  4. Quinton Berkley Butterfield says:

    Cool, hope he makes it!

  5. Truth is killin' me... says:

    BTA needs to sponsor this guy. He’s giving Bermuda free press! Absurd free press but free press no less!!

  6. aceboy says:

    Perhaps someone should show him this video:

    http://bernews.com/2016/04/bermuda-islander-making-way-back-new-jersey/

    There is a low pressure system due this weekend.

    This guy is crazy.

  7. Triangle Drifter says:

    Hope the USCG bills him for rescue costs this time. You can’t fix stoopid.

  8. pondy says:

    When I was a child I thought if i swung my swing high enough i could get to the moon … maybe that has a better chance of working

  9. What an idiot this “person”is.The intellectual side of a human’s life is totally absent from this “person’s” existence.

    • Well, You Know says:

      Some people think living the same year 70 times over is a waste of a life. I’d let Captain Bubble determine his own fate. Look away if you don’t agree with him.

  10. Wally Sittur says:

    Stupid or not, your logic is no match for my determination.
    - The Human Hamster

  11. George Jung aka Boston George says:

    May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face,
    and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars…

  12. Me says:

    Hope a shark don’t bust his bubble

  13. Good Grief says:

    If he dies, do we have to go get him?

  14. Taco Cat says:

    Rest in peace

  15. Bee says:

    Apparently he is attempting to travel around the Bermuda Triangle. Florida to Bermuda, Bermuda to Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico to Florida! TBH! The deep blue sea will eat this man! That this will not stand a chance against 20 foot waves!

  16. pepe says:

    Coast Guard beware! Its Captain Bubble off to waste your time!

  17. Terry says:

    I learned many years ago from my mistakes. I am sure some posters here have also and recently.
    I am not perfect but I don’t drink and drive nor text and drive nor talk on a phone when driving. I don’t even have a bloody cell phone.

    26000 people die in just a day in the US from illness and gunshots and accidents.

    It’s his money and his fate.

    Yet we judge?

    And don’t worry about the cost and Coast Guard.

    In the US the Congress et al rake in in a week ……hell you do the math.

    And don’t forget about free health and retirement.

    Same in Bermuda.

    Be blessed.

  18. Well then says:

    Natural selection at its finest.

  19. Smarter441 says:

    You guys are haters.. I’m going to cheer him on when/if he makes it. You go bubble man!

  20. Smile says:

    Quo Fata Ferunt

  21. Conspiracy Theory says:

    Hope he remembered his passport. Immigration will send him back once he reaches Ordnance Island