Just..Stupid.... 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
Darwin or Moderators: I've had this for a week or so, so I'm not sure about the date..
EDINBURGH: Coastguards have rescued a man who was trying to sail more than 800km from Scotland to Iceland in a 3.6 metre inflatable dinghy.
Mike Pollard, from the north-western English city of Liverpool set off from Lochinver in north-west Scotland yesterday, but called Stornaway coast guards a few hours later when his craft began to take in water, despite the calm conditions.
"The chap called at approximately a quarter to four this morning, he was about 65km north of the Butt of Lewis and he was saying he was bailing the boat all night," said a spokesman for Stornaway coast guards.
"The sea was coming over the side of his boat - it had been taking water and he had been bailing it at night and was not keeping up with it."
Pollard was rescued unharmed by a lifeboat from Lochinver, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said the dinghy "was something of an experimental craft" that Pollard believed could make it to Iceland, "but you only need the slightest swell to overwhelm a dinghy."
The Associated Press Submitted on 07/18/2002
Submitted by:
Rob Miller
Reference:
Associated Press
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