Vital Alsar facts for kids

Vital Alsar Ramírez (August 7, 1933 – September 15, 2020) was a Spanish-born Mexican sailor and scientist. He made several extremely long sailing expeditions. He was born in Santander, Cantabria. He was known for having sailed 3,770 nautical miles (6,980 km; 4,340 mi).

Between 1966 and 1973, Alsar led three expeditions by raft across the Pacific Ocean, from Ecuador and Australia. The first expedition failed, but the second and third succeeded, both setting the record for the longest known raft voyages in history—8,600 miles (13,800 km) and 9,000 miles (14,000 km).

Vital later replaced the rafts with galleons to carry out the project "Mar, hombre y paz", which was begun in 1980. This expedition took the trapo blanco (white rag), around the world on board the La Marigalante.

Alsar died on September 15, 2020 in Mexico City at the age of 87.