Vincenzo Fondacaro

Vincenzo Fondacaro (March 3, 1844—1893) was a Bagnaran captain who crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Montevideo, Uruguay to Las Palmas, Spain on a boat of his own making.

Early life

Fondacaro was born in Bagnara Calabra to a modest family. Later in life, he joined a merchant navy. On 24 May 1876, after a career spanning fifteen years, Fondacaro was promoted to Navy Officer Captain in the Royal Navy of Italy.

Voyages

After the Battle of Lissa took place, Fondacaro started dreaming of crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Montevideo to Las Palmas with his self-made boat, which was approximately 9m x 2.30m x 1.60m and weighing 3 tons, called Leone di Caprera to honour Giuseppe Garibaldi. Fondacaro's crew was composed of Pietro Zoccoli and Orlando Grassoni. On 19 September 1880 the "Leone di Caprera" raised anchor from Montevideo. On 10 February 1881, the crew reached Castello di Farro. On 26 May, the boat was lifted by an English vessels to Livorno. The "Leone di Caprera" is currently situated in the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci in Milan.

On 30 May 1893, with a boat called "Cesare Cantù", Fondacaro raised anchor to cross the Atlantic again, this time from Buenos Aires to Chicago. The crew for this trip was composed of Vincenzo Galasso, Vincenzo Sciplini, and Vincenzo Carrisi. It is reported that at their arrival in Chicago they were received with a standing ovation by bystanders. Attempting to return to Buenos Aires, Fondacaro and his crew disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean.

References

Lombardo, Maria (11 December 2013). "Vincenzo Fondacaro L'Emigrato Duosiciliano che Attraverso L'Atlantico" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 May 2017.

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