A Nebraska man set a new Guinness World Record by sailing inside a hollowed-out pumpkin for 38 miles per the Missouri River.
Breaking the mark right on his birthday number 60, last Saturday Duane Hansen was greeted by family and admirers after leaving the orange “boat” called “Big Berta.”
Hansen told News Channel Nebraska that the trip was fraught with danger, as his floating repeatedly filled with water as passing ships sent waves in its direction.
“The boats leave the waves and you have to stop everything and hold on and sail with those waves,” he said in the middle. “That was bad,” he added.
Hansen first set his sights on this “feat” after meeting the previous record holder at a fruit growing seminar in Oregon.
The master gardener grew the gigantic pumpkin, which weighed 846 pounds, in his own garden for the specific purpose of breaking the record of 25.5 miles set to 2018.
“I am very proud of my dad,” said his daughter, Morgan Buchholz, through tears. “He has always said that you can do whatever you want and how can you not believe someone who goes out and does exactly what he wants and I am very proud.”
Her sister, Yvonne Hansen, flew in from San Diego to handle the flurry of paperwork needed to make the attempt Guinness compliant.
“When we started, it was very fast, as if the first five miles did not seem like anything,” she said in the middle. “Once we got about 18 miles in, it started to feel like, ‘Wow, this is a ride. length'”.
A friend drove a boat with Hansen in case of a mishap, and the trip, which began in Bellevue and ended in Nebraska City, took a total of hours.
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