This paper presents a systematic technical analysis of the first intentional passive transatlantic ocean crossing accomplished entirely by oceanic drift—without mechanical propulsion, sails, or oars. Drawing on the documented 2018–2019 expedition of French adventurer Jean-Jacques Savin—who traversed the Atlantic Ocean in a custom-built fiberglass barrel vessel over 127 days, departing from the Canary Islands and arriving in the Caribbean Sea—this study examines four core dimensions: the naval engineering and ergonomic design of the drift capsule; the geophysical logistics of ocean current exploitation as a propulsion vector; resource management and supply-chain constraints in indefinite-duration confined environments; and collision-avoidance failure modes and radar cross-section vulnerabilities. A comparative risk matrix is constructed, contrasting the successful passive crossing against Savin’s subsequent fatal solo rowing attempt in 2022, revealing a counterintuitive paradox: voluntary surrender of navigational agency may confer a measurable survival advantage over active, high-effort propulsion methods in open-ocean environments. The findings carry significant implications for emergency maritime protocol design, survival capsule engineering, and the strategic use of oceanographic intelligence in extreme logistical scenarios.
Zen Revista (Sat,) studied this question.