Today is the anniversary of whose trans-Pacific trip on what craft?

Brainyblonde

Kon-Tiki was the name given to a raft by Norwegian explorer and writer Thor Heyerdahl in his 1947 expedition. It was named after the Inca sun god, Viracocha, for whom "Kon-Tiki" was said to be an old name. Accompanied by five companions, Heyerdahl sailed it for 101 days over 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean before smashing into the reef at Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands on August 7, 1947. The only modern equipment they had was a radio. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kon_Tiki Aug 07 06, 8:31 AM

lanfranco

Which reminds me: in "Sophie's Choice," William Styron uses his youthful experience as a junior editor (that is, manuscript reader) at McGraw-Hill as a lead-in to the story. I've been able to confirm that some of the details were based on fact, but Styron also claimed, in the novel, that he rejected Thor Heyderdahl's "Kon-Tiki" manuscript, which then went on to become a great bestseller. Does anyone know whether this is true? Aug 07 06, 4:07 PM