Sail around the World – a dream or reality?
Is it a sailor’s ultimate dream to sail around the world? Look at how these people did it!
You don’t have to be mad to sail around the world – but a small element of madness certainly seems to help in some cases!
Are you the intrepid explorer who would want to sail around the world in the fastest possible time? Or are you the more laid-back sailor who enjoys a leisurely pace, and would treat this amazing circumnavigation as a big long holiday? A 36-year long holiday maybe? But more about that later….
Whatever your persuasion, to actually sail around the world is no mean feat. And over the years there have been many people who have undertaken and completed this challenge – however not without a fair degree of controversy in some cases.
Take for example the first person to sail around the world. To the reasonably educated, or maybe an avid quizzer, Ferdinand Magellan would probably be the answer. Wrong! He was the mastermind behind the expedition but did not complete the voyage as he was killed in a fight with islanders in the Philippines.
The accolade went to Juan Sebastian de Elcano who, after Magellan’s death, eventually sailed the remaining ship back to Spain and completed the journey in 1522 – with only 18 crew out of the original 260 that set off in 1519 – the remainder having lost their lives during the voyage.
Maybe the 260 crew who initially joined Magellan wouldn’t have been so keen to go if they had known it was his intention to sail around the world. At that point Magellan had omitted to tell them when they applied for the crewing jobs – just in case he frightened them away!
The first-ever solo, single-handed circumnavigation was made by Joshua Slocum. He set off to sail around the world from Boston Harbour, MA in his 37-foot sloop, Spray-on April 24th 1895 and returned to Rhode Island on June 27th 1898, taking just over 3 years for his trip.
British sailor Robin Knox-Johnston, made the first-ever solo non-stop circumnavigation, starting his journey in June 1968, and arriving back in the UK 313 days later in his handmade yacht Suhali. And Ellen MacArthur still holds the record she set in February 2005 for the fastest solo non-stop sail around the world by a woman. Her record sail in her trimaran, B&Q, took in 71 days 14 hr 18 minutes.
The French also hold several circumnavigation sailing records including the fastest crew to sail around the world. This was achieved in January 2012 by Loick Peyron and his crew in trimaran Banque Populaire V, during the Jules Verne Trophy taking 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes.
French yachtsman, Francois Gabart, 29 won the Vendee Globe solo round-the-world sailing race after 78 days at sea, setting a world record and becoming the youngest person in a mono-hull boat to win the competition. The Vendee Globe, held every four years, is the only single-handed, non-stop around the world sailing competition and recognised as probably the most challenging sporting event in the world.
Or are you looking for a significantly more leisurely pace?
Abandoning the rat race and sailing off into the sunset is the stuff of daydreams for many. And that’s just what intrepid couple Bill and Laurel Cooper did. And they didn’t just sail around the world once – they did it four times – in 36 years! Bill quit his high-flying City job and sold their home in 1976 and sailed away on a boat they built themselves. In 36 years at sea, they have notched up 100,000 nautical miles, sailed across seven seas, travelled 22,000 miles along canals and rivers, and have dropped anchor in 45 different countries.
Or would you go for the super-luxury way to sail around the world, waited on hand and foot in your suite on a cruise liner. Well if money is no object you could spend £64,000 on a suite for two on a World circumnavigation cruise, taking in 36,746 nautical miles covering 22 countries and 33 ports over a 110 day period. There’s no hurry to book up for this voyage as it doesn’t go until 2014 – the 2013 sail around the world cruise is completely sold out!
To many avid sailors with time on their hands, the best way to sail around the world would be in a yacht or sailboat of their choice, at a completely leisurely pace and take as long as they want. Maybe that planned stay in the Caribbean could turn into something a lot longer – and why not!
And if you want to sail around the world with that special person or a friend – or if you’re looking for crew – you could find them on lovesail.com. The ultimate honeymoon – to sail around the world? Well check this out – Finding Love on the High Seas
A special journey – in more ways than one!
You must be logged in to post a comment.