Unmanned pedal boat drifts 100 km from Denmark to Sweden

A bright yellow pedal boat from a North Jutland guesthouse has washed up on a Swedish beach after an uncrewed 100-kilometre journey across the Kattegat, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

The vessel, one of 12 such boats owned by Riverside Voerså near Sæby, was discovered Monday in Långesand after apparently breaking free from its mooring last week. Owner Johnny Olsen confirmed the boat—weighing roughly 500 kg—had vanished from its dock on May 27 following reports of unusual noise near the fleet.

“It’s an incredible story,” Olsen told DR. “The fact it could travel that far in just a few days is wild.”

Authorities believe the boat was pedalled 700 metres into open water before being abandoned, untethered, and carried by currents toward Sweden. Olsen noted this was not the first such incident: in 1982, a sister boat from the same fleet drifted all the way to the Gothenburg archipelago.

The wayward vessel will be retrieved by trailer this week, as a replacement would cost around 25,000 kroner (€3,350). Olsen said the guesthouse would now secure its remaining boats with chains and padlocks to prevent further escapes.

“At least it’s been on a massive advertising tour,” he added.