Pacific Adventure: A True Story of the Sea is a Kodak Informational Film, produced by Mattco Associates, documenting the voyage of a 65-foot yacht across the South Pacific. The Thane left Tahiti on 26 October 1965 and arrived in Panama on 12 January 1966. The story is filmed and narrated by Don Null, and begins in Tahiti (00:15), where three strangers arrive at the airport (00:44): Wallace “Wally” Smith, Doctor Harold Hartl, and Mark Gross. These three answered an ad in a magazine to take part in the adventure. They leave Aeroport Tahiti-FAAA (00:55) and drive through Tahiti’s capital Pape’ete (01:37) on their way to Matavai Bay (01:55). They arrive at the yacht (02:11) and meet the rest of the crew: navigator Charles Popenoe (02:40), a physicist from Washington, and the ship’s captain, Pete Jackson (02:50). On 25 October 1965, the crew load supplies on the ship and make final preparations (03:43), including waterproofing their Kodak cameras (04:11). The next day, they cast off (04:45) and set sail for the neighboring Moorea Island (05:15). The crew are treated to a feast by the natives of Moorea Island (05:57), which is followed by dancing and singing (06:17; 06:43). The following day, the members of the Thane set sail for their next destination, island of Roppa, nearly 800 miles away. When they reach the island’s waters on November 7, they learn that the island is off limits to visitors, so the islanders climb aboard the Thane to celebrate the visiting crew (08:48). Back at sea, the crew find ways to entertain themselves, including B-Dunking, bouncing off the water while on a swing suspended from the sail (09:25), and playing cards, chess, and music. Chores and maintaining logs also occupy the men’s time. The smooth sailing comes to an end when eight days of rough weather hit the crew (11:30), but the storm left beautiful skies in its wake (12:03). Popenoe charts the ship’s position and learns that the storm knocked them off course. They continue to occupy their time at sea with games, a beard-growing competition, and fishing (14:04). On November 30, they arrive at Easter Island (14:45). They visit the stone statues on the island (15:07), and join the island’s governor on a trip to the hillside where the statues were quarried (15:49). There, they meet Bill Malloy, an American anthropologist who studies and restores the statues. They tour the rest of Easter Island, taking in the sweeping views atop the caldera (16:45) and visiting a local church (17:09) and Fr. Sebastian Englert, a Capuchin priest who has been on the island for 30 years. When it comes time to depart Easter Island, the island’s governor and his family bid the crew goodbye (17:29), which has expanded its ranks with the addition of Bill Malloy. On December 25, they reach the Galapagos Islands (18:25), where they watch the lizards, crabs, penguins, birds, and seals/sea lions (18:45). Popenoe catches a squid for dinner (20:55), and other members of the crew catch a few fish to add to the meal. The crew heads back out to sea, but find themselves stuck in the middle of the Pacific when the wind dies and their diesel fuel supply runs out. Fortunately, a large ship comes into view (24:23) after five days of drifting, and they are able to borrow enough fuel to get them to Panama. On 12 January 1966, they arrive at Panama (24:56; 25:18), completing their 8,000-mile journey.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com