A South African man who threw a ‘message in a bottle’ into the ocean 12 years ago, just received an email from a person who found it in Bermuda.
Back in 2006, while sailing a transatlantic crossing aboard a 50ft sailing yacht called ‘Julia’, Francis Chouler tossed a carefully penned “message” in a well sealed bottle into the ocean deep.
It was Julia’s final leg in a circumnavigation around the world, just 12 days before landfall in the Caribbean when Chouler tossed the bottle overboard. Chouler and the crew had romantic notions about it being found but no real expectations.
It was more of a way to pass the time, pay respect to the ocean and honour the traditions of ocean crossing.
Since then, the Capetonian had forgotten about the message, and the bottle all together. He had looked through his journal a few times since but honestly had forgotten that he had ever sent the message out.
But yesterday, 12 years after throwing the bottle into the ocean, the email address at the bottom of the message received an email:
“Hi SV Julia, I am emailing you now to let you know that I found your message in a bottle.
The letter was dated 2006 which is 12 years ago. With that said, I really hope that you get this email! Your message was fascinating – what an adventure you were on. Not to mention the whole message was very artistic.
I am from Bermuda and found the message yesterday in the Western most point of the island (Somerset).
Take a look at the pics. The paper held up very well for 12 years. Almost zero moisture in the paper. Lots of growth on the bottle though.
Anyways, I really hope you get this email. If you do, please write back and let me know how the rest of your journey went.”
Chouler shared the awesome photos and the story on his Facebook which inspired many who had seen it.
“It was a huge surprise to get the email today from the Captain Larry Jacobson 12 years later. The best was to hear how excited the guy who found it was. It warms my heart to imagine what fun it must have been to open the bottle and see a genuine message, so well preserved and made with love. A real moment of adventure!
The world is truly a magical, cheeky, beautiful place, and the Ocean a leading player in its’ playful conjuring.”
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