Washington DC: A US man’s unique achievement got him a new world record. Gary Kristensen grew a massive pumpkin weighing 500 kg and built a boat out of it. He then sailed 73.5 km along the Columbia River in Washington and created a record for the longest journey by a pumpkin boat.
Kristensen’s pumpkin boat named “Punky Loafster” covered 73.5 km in 26 hours. The massive pumpkin weighed 555 kg and was 14 feet in size. The man who grew the pumpkin himself began his journey on it on October 11. He placed a camera on it to capture his one-of-a-kind journey. Speaking to the Guinness World Records, the man stated, “This record attempt was a challenge I had long considered, finally deciding to pursue it this year when I grew a pumpkin suitable for the journey.”
US man sails over 70 km on 500 kg pumpkin boat, sets world record
Kristensen’s journey wasn’t easy due to the unfavourable weather conditions. He was followed by a couple of kayaks and boats to ensure his safety throughout the journey. The man told Guinness World Records that the winds had become stronger just a couple of hours into his adventure. But he continued to paddle through the night to avoid the pumpkin boat from being damaged by sharp rocks. At the end of his journey, Kristensen wasn’t sure if he had managed to set a record. However, he was delighted to have completed his mission.
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Kristensen started growing giant pumpkins in 2011. In 2013, he carved out his first boat from a pumpkin. Soon after, he dreamt of sailing in a pumpkin boat. The man finally made his dream become a reality this year.
