All of us have wanted to tour Europe at least once, but how would you feel about doing so via Sea-Doo? This time last year, Finland’s Risto Piispa was doing exactly that, as he was attempting to set the Guinness World Record for the longest unsupported open ocean journey by aquabike (ie. jet ski). Piispa left from Helsinki to the Spanish city of Ceuta in Morocco (North Africa), totaling an impressive 3,074 km (1,659.8 nautical miles; 1,910 miles), as he circumvented all of Western Europe.
But Piispa wasn’t content with his ocean travels, he also journeyed 1,746 km (1,084 miles; 942.6 nautical miles) on inland waters throughout mainland Europe, which is also impressive particularly considering that the miles did not count towards the record’s final mileage! Aboard his Sea-Doo RXT 260, Piispa racked up a staggering 4,820 km (2,602.5 nautical miles; 2,995 miles), earning himself the nickname “Sea-Doo Man.”
Although Piispa is celebrating his world record, things were looking bleak back in 2008 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He told SURinEnglish, “This changed my life. I decided you should always try to fulfill your dreams because one day it might be too late.”Piispa’s doctors have cleared him of lingering cancer cells, and is expected to live a long, healthy life.
His journey was recorded through Piispa’s navigation system and camera, documenting all the places and people he encountered – even the times he fell off. Inspired by his son, Piispa embarked on this long journey to raise funds for a Finnish children’s hospital in Helsinki that was, as documented by the Guinness World Records’ blog, in need of refurbishment and new medical equipment. He also kept followers regularly updated through his Facebook page.
