Jure Šterk
Encyclopedia
Jure Šterk was a Croatian-born Slovenian long-distance sailor
and author, who went missing during a sailing trip across the Pacific Ocean
in January 2009.
Šterk was born on 6 January 1937 in Zagreb
, Croatia
, which was then a part of Yugoslavia
. During his sailing career he crossed the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Between 1991 and 1994 he sailed around the world single-handedly.
His son is the Slovenian film
director Igor Šterk.
in Bela krajina, and attended a gymnasium in Črnomelj
. He lived in Ljubljana
for some time, and received his captain's licence in 1977.
eight times, the Indian Ocean
twice, and the Pacific Ocean
once. Between 1991 and 1994 he single-handedly sailed around the world, in his own 6.5 meter-long boat. He made most of his boats by himself.
to communicate, and was last heard from on 1 January 2009. His sail boat Lunatic was spotted on 26 January, approximately 1000 nmi (1,852 km) off the coast of Australia
. The boat looked damaged and there was no sign of Jure Šterk on deck.
Three months later, on April 30, 2009 the sail boat was found adrift by the crew of the science vessel RV Roger Revelle, 500 miles (804.7 km) south-eastern on position: Latitude 32-18.0S, Longitude 091-07.0E. The sails were torn and there was no one on board. After boarding they found that the last log entry was made on 2 January 2009.
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
and author, who went missing during a sailing trip across the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
in January 2009.
Šterk was born on 6 January 1937 in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, which was then a part of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. During his sailing career he crossed the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Between 1991 and 1994 he sailed around the world single-handedly.
His son is the Slovenian film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
director Igor Šterk.
Early life
Šterk grew up in VinicaVinica
Vinica or Vinitsa may refer to:* Vinica , a place in the Tomislavgrad land council* Vinica, Črnomelj, a village in the Municipality of Črnomelj, Slovenia* Vinica, Macedonia, a town in the Vinica Municipality of Macedonia...
in Bela krajina, and attended a gymnasium in Črnomelj
Crnomelj
Črnomelj is a town and municipality in southeastern Slovenia. It lies on the left bank of the Lahinja and Dobličica rivers. The municipality is at the heart of the area of White Carniola, the southeastern part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola...
. He lived in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
for some time, and received his captain's licence in 1977.
Sailing achievements
He competed in the Minitransat transatlantic race (Transat 6,50) three times, crossed the Atlantic oceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
eight times, the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
twice, and the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
once. Between 1991 and 1994 he single-handedly sailed around the world, in his own 6.5 meter-long boat. He made most of his boats by himself.
Last journey
In December 2007 at age 70, Jure Šterk started a journey to sail around the world on his boat Lunatic. He used his amateur radioAmateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
to communicate, and was last heard from on 1 January 2009. His sail boat Lunatic was spotted on 26 January, approximately 1000 nmi (1,852 km) off the coast of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The boat looked damaged and there was no sign of Jure Šterk on deck.
Three months later, on April 30, 2009 the sail boat was found adrift by the crew of the science vessel RV Roger Revelle, 500 miles (804.7 km) south-eastern on position: Latitude 32-18.0S, Longitude 091-07.0E. The sails were torn and there was no one on board. After boarding they found that the last log entry was made on 2 January 2009.