Francis Brenton – Brave Solo Sailor

by mogz1964

 

frank0019

Today I have started working on this web site which will be a tribute to my great Uncle Frank – Francis Brenton.  I never met him but I wish I had… one of the bravest solo sailors who ever lived.  He  crossed the Atlantic twice in small vessels, once with a dugout canoe, and taught himself to sail and navigate…whilst on the ocean.

Thanks to my comrade Jon Maleta who knew of Frank from his base in Chicago and has helped me collect photos and writings of Frank… and has inspired me to publish this webpage.  I hope you can enjoy watching it grow over the coming months and years.

Paul Morris, Västerås, Sweden.

6 thoughts on “Francis Brenton – Brave Solo Sailor”

    1. Thanks for the comment. He certainly was incredibly brave.
      I’ll try and put more on the website in the Christmas holidays ahead so keep an eye out.
      Paul Morris Nov 2017

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      1. You may start to see more action because of that Tribune article. Amazing, how many men did these solo and duo (take the case of Chay Blyth and John Ridgeway in 1966) journeys across the seas and we never hear about most of them.

        I am really impressed with your uncle though, man did he have guts!

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  2. Hi Thomas
    Thanks again for this. Just so I understand what’s going on. Is the Chicago Tribune currently re-running Frank’s Story? I live in Sweden and I have not been following the Chicago Tribune online.
    I would be grateful if you fill me in. For some time I have been thinking I ought to get Frank”s legacy more on line…. I have loads of slides that I could digitalise and travel diaries I could scan in. Maybe I should contact the Chicago Tribune for an update?
    Thanks for your contact….it means a lot.
    Paul Morris

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  3. Well, basically, the tribune ran a story all about Frank’s travels (in general) and then told readers that the original articles (in pdf form, from the archives of the Trib) were available for free download.

    I happened upon your website because the pictures in the articles were not in good condition and I really wanted to get a good look at some of -these “vessels” that Frank built and sailed across oceans in.
    So I googled his name and clicked images and saw your color prints.

    Here is the tribune -link to the recent article -and then to the pdf’s of the 1967 story.

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