Olek Piotr Chmielinski has no corporate sponsors , but is using retirement funds . The 5,000 mile kayak journey launched in Lisbon , Portugal , Friday . Doba 's voyage is the longest ever in a kayak and the first to go from Europe to North America , he said . Doba hopes to reach Portugal , Florida , on four years . It 's his first complete transatlantic kayak trip in four years .
Olek Piotr Chmielinski has no corporate sponsors , but is using retirement funds . The 5,000 mile kayak journey launched in Lisbon , Portugal , Friday . Doba hopes to reach Portugal , Florida , on four years . It 's his first complete transatlantic kayak trip in four years .