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Solo Circumnavigation of the Earth.

Welcome to the only consolidated place on the web where you can track current solo circumnavigation attempts and revisit some of the past solo successes and circumnavigation events. Although we try to be thorough, there are sure to be efforts that we have missed, both past and future. If you are aware of an omission on our part, please let us know! webmaster@thedeepradioshow.com

Before exploring current and past solo circumnavigation attempts, it might be useful to define What is Circumnavigation?



Longest Continual Non-Stop Sailing Voyage: After 1,152 days meandering the world’s oceans on a 70-foot schooner he built himself, Reid Stowe sailed into New York to claim the record for the longest sea voyage in history.
CURRENT SOLO RECORD ATTEMPTS
Minoru Saito Minoru Saito - (currently under repair in Hawaii) The official web site of Minoru Saito’s Challenge 8 campaign to become both the FIRST and the OLDEST sailor to complete eight solo circumnavigations of the globe — this time the “wrong way around.
Jeanne]

Jeanne Socrates - "This will be a second circumnavigation attempt. The first attempt began in March of 2007, but had an  incredibly unlucky ending on a steep surf beach in Mexico less than twelve hours and about fifty miles short of completion on 19th June'08. I began again in October 2009 in my newly built Najad 380 - also to be called "Nereida" - watch my website for more news and adventures!"

UPDATE (From Website): "I expected the journey to take around 7 months and to be quite a challenge but never expected to have to deal with quite so many problems due to
breakages as I did . My current plan is to relax in Hawaii, ready to greet the racers finishing in early July and then head north to Alaska with the intention of cruising south to Vancouver Island over August & September to re-start my non-stop circumnavigation via Cape Horn early in October 2010."

Laura Dekker

Laura Dekker - Departed August 21, 2010. At age 14, Laura is attempting to be the youngest to sail around the world solo. Unlike other recent attempts, she plans many stops along the way to allow for boat maintenance, provisioning and family visits.

PROPOSED SOLO RECORD ATTEMPTS
   
RECENTLY COMPLETED CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS
Reid Stowe Reid Stowe - (Completed June 17 2010) along with his sole crew Soanya Ahmad at his side, departed from Pier 12 in Hoboken, New Jersey on April 12, 2007 with the intent to break the current record for a continual non-stop, non-resupply sailing voyage. Soanya was forced to leave after 10 months when she felt overcome by seasickness — which turned out not to be seasickness. After 1,152 days meandering the world’s oceans on a 70-foot schooner he built himself, Reid Stowe sailed into New York to claim the record for the longest sea voyage in history
Alessandro Di Alessandro Di Benedetto Alessandro Di Benedetto - (Completed July 22, 2010) will attempt to sail around the world in single-handed, without any landing, not assisted, by a sailing boat 6.5 m. long. The smallest boat all over the world in living memory,  trying a feat of this sort. The undertaking will be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council/International Sailing Federation WSSRC/ISAF.
Alessandro left from Les Sables d’Olonne-France in October of 2009, the same start point as the famous regatta for single-handed, the Vendée Globe, which is considered, by most people, the Everest for sailing.
Dilip Donde Commodore Dilip Donde, (Completed May 19, 2010) a clearance diver with the Indian Navy, has become the first Indian to embark on solo circumnavigation expedition, christened Project Sagar Parikrama. Donde, who embarked August of 2009, will compass a distance of over 21,600 Nm (nautical miles) over 9 months with halts at four ports — Fremantle (Australia), Christ Church (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands) and Cape Town (South Africa).
Jessica Watson Jessica Watson - (Completed: May 15, 2010) Jessica Watson set out on October 18, 2009 to become the youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the World. 22,000 nautical miles, 7-8 months, one young woman alone, facing all that the sea and the weather can throw at her. This is the challenge that Jessica will overcome.
Mike Perham Mike Perham - (Completed: August 27, 2009) Mike started sailing at the age of seven and has never looked back. He has completed RYA courses in dinghy sailing and windsurfing. At the age of fourteen Mike became the youngest person to ever sail across the Atlantic single-handed. He still holds that world record today.
Natasza Caban Natasza Caban - (Completed: December 2, 2009) "I am not attempting to become famous. I'm going to sail solo around the world on a little boat to show to people that it is worth while having a dream. I want to make them believe in themselves by proving that persistence will lead them to their goals."
Zac Sunderland Zac Sunderland - (Completion: July 16, 2009) "My name is Zac Sunderland and I am 16 years old. I departed June 14th 2008 from Marina del Rey, California in an attempt to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the world alone by yacht. " Born to a family of yachtsmen and shipwrights, Zac quickly grew sea legs, and at an early age was deciphering Lat/Longs, not streets and avenues.
Marta Szilajtis Marta Sziłajtis - (Completion: April 20, 2009) Marta Sziłajtis-Obiegło is setting off for the voyage of her dreams. After her successful voyage around the world she is now the youngest Polish sailor to do so.   Her voyage followed the Passat Route via Panama, the Galapagos Islands, the Island of Polynesia, Australia, Indian Ocean, South Africa, across the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil to attend the carnival and back to Venezuela. She called at 14 harbors on her way. Those calls will focus on indispensable repairs, new supplies of fuel, water and food and some sightseeing. (Webmasters note: there is some dispute as to whether the entire voyage was completed "solo")
Joanna Pajkowska Joanna Pajkowska - (Completion: Jan 2009) On 8’th of January 2009 Joanna Pajkowska completed in Panama her solo and non-stop trip around the world. Until now no Polish yachtswoman achieved such a task. Her trip was the record fastest Polish single handed circumnavigation. The previous record was set in 1980 by Henryk Jaskuła on S/Y Dar Przemyśla and stands at 344 days. Only one more Polish sailor, Tomasz Lewandowski, sailed around the world without stopping at any ports, on the yacht named Luka, in 392 days in 2007-2008 (webmasters note: There is some dispute as to whether this circumnavigation can be classified as "non-stop" due to a to call at East London, mooring for 3 nights at the marina and fuel receipt)

RACES

Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 - (Next event will be 2011 - 2012) The Volvo Ocean Race is an exceptional test of sailing prowess and human endeavour which has been built on the spirit of great seafarers - fearless men who sailed the world’s oceans aboard square rigged clipper ships more than a century ago. During the race the crews will experience life at the extreme: no fresh food is taken onboard so they live off freeze dried fare, they will experience temperature variations from -5 to +40 degrees Celsius and will only take one change of clothes. They will trust their lives to the boat and the skipper and experience hunger and sleep deprivation.

Vendeeglobe 2008 - 2009 - (Next event will be 2011 - 2012) In theory, the Vendée Globe is an utterly simple affair. Its fundamental principles come down to a few sentences, compared to which even the roughest logbook would seem sophisticated. A sailing race around the world, for singlehanders, without any stopover. That's it. In theory at least, because beyond these words start great stories.

Portimao Global Oceanrace 2008 - (Next event will be 2011 - 2012) The course for the Portimão Global Ocean Race takes in some of the roughest waters on the planet. Starting in Portimão, Portugal the race stops in Cape Town, South Africa, Wellington New Zealand, Ilhabela, Brazil and Charleston, USA before finishing back in Portugal, a total of 30,000 nautical miles. One of the principal objectives of the Portimão Global Ocean Race is to attract a new audience to the world of offshore ocean racing while at the same time keeping the loyal and dedicated following that is already addicted to sailing websites. The way we plan to do this is to take a fresh approach to how the story of the race is told.

 

CIRCUMNAVIGATION RECORD HOLDERS

Fastest Solo Circumnavigation
57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes
Joyon, Francis* /France / 2007-08 / 110-ft Irons-Cabaret-designed trimaran / IDEC 2

Fastest Crewed Circumnavigation

48 days, 7 hours, 44 minutes
Franck Cammas (and a crew of 9) /France / Jan-Mar, 2010 / 105-ft Maxi Trimaran / Groupama 3

First Circumnavigation
Magellan, Ferdinand /Portugal / 1519-1521 / 90-ft carrack / Victoria
Of the 240 crewmembers and five ships that set out with Magellan, only 18 men and one ship, the Victoria, survived to complete the circumnavigation. Magellan himself was not among them, having been killed by natives in the Philippines. The survivors were led by Spaniard Juan Sebastián Elcano, who assumed command of the expedition after Magellan’s death.

First Solo Circumnavigation
Slocum, Joshua / Nova Scotia / 1895-98 / 37-ft sloop / Spray
Slocum and Spray disappeared on a voyage to the Caribbean in 1909.

First Nonstop Solo Unassisted Circumnavigation
Moitessier, Bernard / 1968-1969 / 39-ft ketch / Joshua
(via the five great capes)

First Nonstop Solo Unassisted Circumnavigation by a Woman
Kay Cottee / 1987-88 / Cavalier 37 Sloop / Blackmores First Lady
A singlehand nonstop circumnavigation eastabout from/to Sydney, Australia, via St Paul’s Rocks in the North Atlantic and south of the five southernmost capes, west to east, commencing November 29, 1987, and finishing June 5, 1988. Total sailing time 189 days 0 hours 32 minutes, logging 22,100 miles at an average speed of 116.93 miles per day. The voyage was completed without touching land, and without any form of outside aid apart from radio contact.In June 1988, Kay Cottee became the first woman to sail solo, unassisted and nonstop around the world. In the course of her voyage she set seven world records.

First Nonstop Solo Unassisted Circumnavigation in a vessel less than 32ft.
Alessandro Di Benedetto / 2009-10 / 6.5m Mini / Findomestic Banca
The circumnavigation was a, single-handed, non stop, not assisted, by a sailing boat 6.5  mt long. The rules were the same used for  the Golden Globe, A sailor, a sailing boat, the globe circumnavigation sailing past the 3 Capes at left (Agulhas, Leeuwin, Horn), without any landing and not assisted. Alessandro completed the voyage in 268d 19h 36' 12".

Fastest Nonstop Solo Unassisted Circumnavigation in a vessel less than 32ft.
Alessandro Di Benedetto / 2009-10 / 6.5m Mini / Findomestic Banca
The circumnavigation was a, single-handed, non stop, not assisted, by a sailing boat 6.5  mt long. The rules were the same used for  the Golden Globe, A sailor, a sailing boat, the globe circumnavigation sailing past the 3 Capes at left (Agulhas, Leeuwin, Horn), without any landing and not assisted. Alessandro completed the voyage in 268d 19h 36' 12".

First Nonstop Solo Circumnavigation, Port-to-Port
Knox-Johnston, Robin / 1968-1969 / 32-ft ketch / Suhaili
(via the three great capes)

Longest Non-Stop / Non Resupply Voyage
Reid Stowe / April 12 2007 - June 17, 2010 (1152 days) / New York / 70ft. Schooner / Anne

Youngest Unassisted Nonstop Circumnavigator
Jessica Watson (16 yrs and 362 days) / Australia / 2009-10 / S&S 34 / Ella's Pink Lady

Youngest Circumnavigator
Mike Perham (age 17 yrs and 164 days) / Great Britan ./ 2008-2009 / Open 50 / Totallymoney.com

Oldest Nonstop Circumnavigator
Saito, Minoru (age 71) / Japan / 2004-05 / Adams 50 / Challenge 7 (ex-Shuten-Dohji)

Oldest Circumnavigator (with stops)
Heckel, Harry (age 89) / Jacksonville / 1995-2005 / Dreadnought 32 / Idle Queen

First Woman Circumnavigator (with stops)
Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz / Canary Islands / 1976-1978 / Conrad 32 / Mazurek

First West Coast Circumnavigator
Pidgeon, Harry / San Pedro / 1925 & 1937 / gaff yawl / Islander
Pidgeon was also the first sailor to complete two solo circumnavigations.

First West Coast Women Solo Circumnavigators
Henry, Pat / Mexico / 1989-97 / Southern Cross 31 / Southern Cross — via Panama.
Thorndike, Karen / Washington / 1996-98 / Rival 36 / Amelia — traditional circumnavigation route via the great capes.

Multiple Circumnavigations
During his triple circumnavigation Jon Sanders set the following records, which have been ratified by the Guinness Book of Records:

  • First single-handed to complete five circumnavigations (two having been completed by Sanders in Perie Banou in 1981-82)
  • First single-handed to complete three non-stop circumnavigations consecutively.
  • First single-handed to complete a total of four non-stop circumnavigations (the first in 1981-82)
  • First single-handed to complete more than one non-stop circumnavigation.
  • First single-handed to complete five Cape Horn rounding's (one east-west, four west-east).
  • First single-handed to complete four Cape Horn rounding's during non-stop circumnavigations.
  • First single-handed to round the five southernmost capes four times.
  • First single-handed to complete a circumnavigation using the east-west route (i.e. Cape Horn plus two other capes - Leeuwin and Good Hope).
  • First single-handed to complete four circumnavigations using the west-east route (i.e. Cape Horn plus four other capes - Good Hope, Leeuwin, South East, Tasmanian and Southwest, New Zealand).
  • First small yacht (less than 15.5m) skipper to complete five circumnavigations, crewed or single-handed
  • Longest distance ever sailed continuously by any vessel (71,023 nautical miles or 131,535km).
  • Longest period ever spent alone at sea (657 days 21 hours 18 minutes).
  • Believed first yachtsman to complete five circumnavigations via Cape Horn (as crewed or single-handed).
  • First yachtsman to circumnavigate non-stop via the Horn west about and east about.
  • First yachtsman to complete three consecutive non-stop circumnavigations.

Joshua Slocum Society International - List of Solo Circumnavigators

West Coast Circumnavigators' List - This list is meant to note boats or people who have:
  • left from and returned to U.S. West Coast ports or Hawaii on their circumnavigations;
  • West Coast or Hawaii-based sailors who have done circumnavigations starting and ending in non-West Coast ports. Both skipper and any crew who have completed the whole trip qualify for mention here.
  • The list is intended mainly for cruising boats, but we are happy to note anyone whose circumnavigation was completed during the course of a race.