This Man Sailed Across The Ocean To Reach His 90-Year-Old Father During Lockdown (9 pics)

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Being an experienced mariner, Ballestero wasn't going to let an airport tell him he couldn't be with his family.

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Instead, he decided to navigate the seas across the Atlantic Ocean.

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With 5,600 miles ahead of him and a 75-day journey, Ballestero was ready to set sail.

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But there was a catch: Ballestero lived on a small quarantined island near Portugal called Porto Santo that hadn't yet been affected by the virus. In fear of bringing the virus to the island, authorities told Ballestero "if you leave, there's no coming back" - it was a one-way trip.

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“I didn’t want to stay like a coward on an island where there were no cases. I wanted to do everything possible to return home. The most important thing for me was to be with my family.” -Captain Juan Manuel Ballestero

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Like all great sea voyages, Ballestero had to face his fair share of hardships and danger. The port in which he planned to restock denied him access causing his rations to run low. After passing the equator, his fuel supply went empty leaving him to rely only on the power of the wind. But most unfortunate of all... the wine ran out on Day 38.

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“I wasn’t afraid, but I did have a lot of uncertainty. It was very strange to sail in the middle of a pandemic with humanity teetering around me. Faith keeps you standing in these situations.” -Captain Juan Manuel Ballestero