Thanks for the beautiful friendships, Bermuda

He’s travelled the world over but Bermuda will always hold a special place in the heart of 67-year-old adventure kayaker Aleksander Doba.

The Polish pensioner left the island yesterday aboard the Spirit of Bermuda, which is to sail him offshore where his Transatlantic journey was cut short last month due to complications with the vessel. Speaking to the Bermuda Sun, he said: “I find here very friendly people. 

“I stayed a few days at the St George’s Club — then I left to stay with my new friends in Hamilton Parish.

“Here is a beautiful island and my friend Monica give me a few days on a bicycle and I go all over the island from Dockyard to the end of St George’s all the time looking at the beautiful island and swimming in the beautiful beaches.”

He expects the next leg of his journey — to Florida —will take him one month.

Mr Doba is attempting to become the first person to kayak solo from Europe to North America. 

He left Portugal on October 5 but had to divert to Bermuda after a long spell of stormy weather damaged his rudder veering him off course.

Staff at Convict Bay Marina finished repairs on the rudder and Mr Doba was in high spirits.