Gaston Colin

Gaston Colin

Name

Gaston Colin

Role

Crew Member

Based

Scope

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Canadian crew member who sailed aboard one of the rafts in Las Balsas (1973).

Author articles

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Other authors

Role

Nonprofit Organization

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Asociación Vital Alsar

Intercultural non-profit organization founded in Santander to preserve Vital Alsar’s vessels, memories, and messages of peace.

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Gabriel Salas

Role

Poet/Writer

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Gerardo Diego

Spanish poet and academic born in Santander, known for contributions to Ultraísta and Creationist movements; no direct connection to Alsar’s expeditions.

Role

Navigator/Explorer

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José Hierro

Spanish navigator and explorer born in Santander who died in Acapulco; contemporary of Vital Alsar though no direct collaboration documented.

Role

School Director

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José Manuel Merino

Spanish director of La Salle de Santander who promoted Vital Alsar’s documentaries and named him lasaliano del año for his peace advocacy.

Role

Painter/Novelist

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Leonora Carrington

Leonora Carrington was a British-born, naturalized Mexican surrealist painter and novelist; no documented collaboration with Vital Alsar.

Role

NGO Ocean conservation

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Spain

Surf & Nature Alliance

Organization in which Vital Alsar was an ambasator in their mission to promote ocean literacy and environmental awareness among youth and communities.

Role

Poet/Writer

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Matilde Camus

Spanish poet Matilde Camus was known for her poetry and non-fiction works; no direct link to Vital Alsar’s expeditions.

Role

Crew Member

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Norman Tetreault

Canadian navigator who participated in La Balsa (1970) and Las Balsas (1973) under Vital Alsar’s leadership.

Role

Environmental Advocate

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Philippe Cousteau

American marine conservationist who shared the Golden Dolphin award with Vital Alsar in recognition of their contributions to ecology and awareness.

Role

Memorial Site

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Zaera Dock

Location in Santander where the “Paloma de la Paz” sculpture was inaugurated in 2021 as part of the first Vital Alsar Memorial to honor his legacy.

Role

Crew Member

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Fernand Robichaud

Canadian crew member who sailed aboard one of the rafts in Las Balsas (1973).

Role

Captain/First Mate

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Marc Modena

French navigator who was a crew member on La Pacífica (1966), La Balsa (1970), and captain of Mooloolaba on Las Balsas (1973); known for loyalty and seamanship.

Role

Crew Member

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Greg Holden

Canadian crew member who sailed aboard one of the rafts in Las Balsas (1973).

Role

Crew Member

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Mike Fitzgibbons

American crew member who sailed aboard one of the rafts in Las Balsas (1973).

Role

Crew Member

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Hugo Becerra

Chilean crew member who sailed aboard one of the rafts in Las Balsas (1973).

Role

Crew Member

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Tom McCormick

American crew member who sailed aboard one of the rafts in Las Balsas (1973).

Role

Crew Member

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Aníbal Guevara

Ecuadorian crew member who participated in Vital Alsar’s Las Balsas expedition in 1973.

Role

Crew Member

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Tom Ward

American crew member who sailed aboard one of the rafts in Las Balsas (1973).

Role

Family Support

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Denise Alsar

Denise Alsar is the spouse of Vital Alsar who provided crucial logistical and familial support throughout his voyages.

Role

Photographer

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Ted Robinson

Australian photographer Ted Robinson documented the arrival of the Las Balsas rafts in Ballina in November 1973.

Role

Expedition Organizer

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Rafael Corcuera

Mexican organizer and close friend who coordinated financial, crew, and media logistics for Vital Alsar’s expeditions.

Role

Tripulante Las Balsas

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Jorge Ramirez

Mexican navigator who captained the raft “Aztlán” in the Las Balsas expedition (1973) under Vital Alsar’s leadership.

Role

Editor/Reporter

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Peter “Richo” Richardson

Australian reporter who covered the arrival of Vital Alsar’s rafts in Ballina in November 1973 for the local press.

Role

Crew Member

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Gabriel Salas

Chilean mariner; participated in La Balsa (1970) and Las Balsas (1973) under Vital Alsar’s command.

Role

Mascota

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Minet (gato)

Cat that accompanied the crew on La Balsa (1970) and Las Balsas (1973), providing comfort and companionship.

Role

Collaborator; Friend

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Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí donated a sail for La Pacífica (1966) and designed the Golden Dolphin award shared with Vital Alsar, linking art and environmental advocacy.

Role

Messenger of Peace

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Juan Pablo Tec Chin

Mayan boy who sailed with Vital Alsar on Zamná (2009–2010), symbolizing the union of ancestral wisdom and new generations.

Role

Content Writer

Based

San Francisco, US

Tammy Goodwin

Tammy Goodwin is a content writer covering lifestyle, design, and technology topics for this publication.

Role

Presidente

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Santander

Javier Cantera Gómez

Co-founder of Surf & Nature Alliance; joined Vital Alsar’s Zamná expedition in 2009 as crew and protégé, today is taking the helm of the organization to keep promoting ocean literacy and peace.

Role

Content Writer

Based

London, UK

Norman Choate

Norman Choate is a content writer specializing in finance, business, and technology topics.

Role

Vicepresidente y Secretario

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Dr. Daniel Casanova Rituerto

Spanish surgeon who provided medical oversight on the Zamná expedition and documented Vital Alsar’s final reflections.

Role

Photographer

Based

Munich, DE

Maria Fuerst

Maria Fuerst is the Photographer responsible for visual content on finance, business, and culture topics.

Role

Consejero y tesorero

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Eduardo González Mesones

Eduardo González Mesones is a Spanish industrial engineer and President of ENSA, specializing in nuclear equipment manufacturing.

Role

Familia Alsar

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Marina Alsar Ramirez

Marina Alsar supported and documented brother’s expeditions and legacy.

Role

Content Specialist

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Berlin, DE

Mathias Schaefer

Mathias Schaefer is the Content Specialist focusing on technology and business topics for this blog.

Role

Content editor

Based

New York, US

Enrique Hank López

My name is Ralph Foster, and I am the Content writer for this magazine.

I recently stepped into this role, and I hope you get a lot of pieces of information from my articles. I specialized in topics about creativity and design.

Role

Presidente Emérito

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Jesús Ceballos

Jesús Ceballos ha brindado apoyo a las expediciones y empresas de Vital Alsar desde 1980. Presidente de la Asociación hasta 2020 y personaje querido en Santander, ha sido alcalde pedáneo de San Román de la Llanilla, concejal del ayuntamiento de Santander y asesor del gobierno de Cantabria.

Role

Tripulante

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Santiago Villaverde Pacheco

Psicólogo , Tripulante del Zamná y amigo de Vital

Role

Tripulante

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Jorge Riveros Miranda

Role

Tripulante

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Sergio Gual Cosío

Tripulante del Zamná y uno de los casi hijos adoptivos de Vital.

Dra. Andrea Ballesteros Danel

La Dra. Andrea Ballesteros Danel aporta a la Asociación Vital Alsar una sólida experiencia en investigación histórica y cultural vinculada al ámbito marítimo. Especialista en teorías de contacto transpacífico precolombino, colaboró en el documental The Raftman de Chadden Hunter, donde fue clave para establecer contacto con la familia de Vital Alsar, la asociación de la que forma parte y con los descendientes de Jorge Ramírez. Asimismo, contribuyó con la transcripción y traducción de entrevistas, la recopilación de material audiovisual y la localización de publicaciones, enriqueciendo la memoria del navegante y sus expediciones. Su trayectoria combina rigor académico y pasión por la divulgación, en sintonía con los valores y objetivos de la Asociación.

Role

Member

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Dr. Chadden Hunter