| 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? |
CURRENT SOLO RECORD ATTEMPTS
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. RACES Volvo Ocean Race 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 2012 – 2013 – (Next event will start 10/11/2012) 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 2011 – (First let to start 9/25/2011) 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. Fastest Solo Circumnavigation Fastest Crewed Circumnavigation First Circumnavigation First Solo Circumnavigation First Nonstop Solo Unassisted Circumnavigation First Nonstop Solo Unassisted Circumnavigation by a Woman First Nonstop Solo Unassisted Circumnavigation in a vessel less than 32ft. Fastest Nonstop Solo Unassisted Circumnavigation in a vessel less than 32ft. First Nonstop Solo Circumnavigation, Port-to-Port Longest Non-Stop / Non Resupply Voyage Youngest Unassisted Nonstop Circumnavigator Youngest Circumnavigator Oldest Nonstop Circumnavigator Oldest Circumnavigator (with stops) First Woman Circumnavigator (with stops) First West Coast Circumnavigator First West Coast Women Solo Circumnavigators Thorndike, Karen / Washington / 1996-98 / Rival 36 / Amelia — traditional circumnavigation route via the great capes. Multiple Circumnavigations Joshua Slocum Society International – List of Solo Circumnavigators West Coast Circumnavigators’ List – This list is meant to note boats or people who have:
Eric Loss – 1st solo nonstop circumnavigation attempt. Departed Los Angeles harbor Nov 7, 2011 in Odyssey, a 36′ Islander. Forced to stop for mast step repairs in Valparaiso, Chile in January. Rounded Cape Horn Feb 14, 2012. “Ever since I heard my first sea story as a wee young lad, I’ve wanted to sail around the world and round Cape Horn. One of my goals is to really live life, to fully experience the highs and lows, to actually accomplish something difficult. I can’t afford to screw up and do something stupid out here. Whether I have a car, or money in the bank, or the respect and adulation of friends and peers doesn’t do a damn bit of good if the furling line chafes through or a breaking wave puts the spreaders in the water. There’s a purity out here which makes the living all the sweeter – the highs are higher, the depths are deeper, and every day I learn a little bit more. I went to sea to save my soul, and this circumnavigation provides a powerful setting to do so.”
![Jeanne]](http://www.thedeepradioshow.com/images/Circumnavigation/Jeanne.png)
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!”
PROPOSED SOLO RECORD ATTEMPTS
Thomas Watson – I’m sailing around the world to raise 1 million dollars for breast cancer research. The route takes me south of the 5 great capes with no crew, no engine, and no stops for a world with no cancer! The Pink Boat has partnered with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in the pursuit to prevent and cure breast cancer and help saves the lives of hundereds of thousands of women each year through sailing. It is The Pink Boat’s first goal is to raise $1 million for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Further, it is our hope this victory will spill over and help in the prevention and cure of other forms of cancer.
RECENTLY COMPLETED CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS
Laura Dekker - (Completed Jan 21, 2012) Departing on August 21, 2010 at age 14, Laura is has become the youngest to sail around the world solo. Unlike other recent attempts, she stoped along the way to allow for boat maintenance, provisioning and family visits.
Minoru Saito – (Completed Sept 17, 2011) 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.
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 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.
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 – (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 – (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 – (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 – (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 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 – (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)
CIRCUMNAVIGATION RECORD HOLDERS
57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes
Joyon, Francis* /France / 2007-08 / 110-ft Irons-Cabaret-designed trimaran / IDEC 2
48 days, 7 hours, 44 minutes
Franck Cammas (and a crew of 9) /France / Jan-Mar, 2010 / 105-ft Maxi Trimaran / Groupama 3
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.
Slocum, Joshua / Nova Scotia / 1895-98 / 37-ft sloop / Spray
Slocum and Spray disappeared on a voyage to the Caribbean in 1909.
Moitessier, Bernard / 1968-1969 / 39-ft ketch / Joshua
(via the five great capes)
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.
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″.
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″.
Knox-Johnston, Robin / 1968-1969 / 32-ft ketch / Suhaili
(via the three great capes)
Reid Stowe / April 12 2007 – June 17, 2010 (1152 days) / New York / 70ft. Schooner / Anne
Jessica Watson (16 yrs and 362 days) / Australia / 2009-10 / S&S 34 / Ella’s Pink Lady
Laura Decker (age 16 yrs 4 mo and 1 day) / Dutch, German, New Zealand / 2011-2012 / 11.5m Ketch / Guppy
Saito, Minoru (age 71) / Japan / 2004-05 / Adams 50 / Challenge 7 (ex-Shuten-Dohji)
Heckel, Harry (age 89) / Jacksonville / 1995-2005 / Dreadnought 32 / Idle Queen
Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz / Canary Islands / 1976-1978 / Conrad 32 / Mazurek
Pidgeon, Harry / San Pedro / 1925 & 1937 / gaff yawl / Islander
Pidgeon was also the first sailor to complete two solo circumnavigations.
Henry, Pat / Mexico / 1989-97 / Southern Cross 31 / Southern Cross — via Panama.
During his triple circumnavigation Jon Sanders set the following records, which have been ratified by the Guinness Book of Records:
