youngest person to circumnavigate the world in a sailboat solo

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Laura Dekker: 10 years on after becoming the youngest person to sail solo around the world

• Katy Stickland
• November 17, 2022

Laura Dekker defied the odds to finish her solo circumnavigation around the world. Ten years on, she reflects on her momentous achievement

Laura Dekker wants to inspire others to pursue their dreams and stand up for what they believe, which is why she launched the Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation. Credit: Laura Dekker Sailing Foundation Credit: Laura Dekker Sailing Foundation

How far would you go to achieve your sailing dream? Dutch sailor Laura Dekker went further than most to become the youngest person to solo circumnavigate the world.

She faced the scrutiny of a critical media, court battles with the Dutch state, psychological testing, the confiscation of her boat and the threat of being removed from her parents.

‘I clung onto hope and just kept going, hoping something would change,’ she recalled. ‘I am quite a positive thinking person so I like to keep going, but I definitely had low moments.’

Laura Dekker and her parents were surprised by the Dutch state’s fierce opposition to her plans.

Born in Whangarei, New Zealand while her parents were sailing around the globe, Dekker grew up on the water and on boats. Sailing was just a normal part of her life.

Leaving Port Elizabeth, South Africa. By this point, Laura felt she had already achieved the aims of her circumnavigation. Credit: Uwe Moser

‘To us, it wasn’t as crazy as it seemed to so many other people, especially for me, because sailing was literally all I knew. I really couldn’t understand what the fuss was about, which is part of the reason why I really wanted to keep fighting. It seemed really unfair that three judges, who had no idea about boats or sailing, needed to decide whether I was capable of doing such a thing or not,’ explained Dekker, who initially started honing her sailing skills in an Optimist and Mirror before graduating to a Hurley 700.

At 10, she made her first long-distance solo trip, from Ijsselmeer to the Wadden Islands.

Her appetite for singlehanded sailing well and truly whetted, she began preparing for a circumnavigation , sailing her Hurley 700 solo from the Netherlands to the UK. She was 13.

The police were alerted after a friend’s mother reported her to the authorities, and her father, Dick, had to fly to England and sail with her back home.

This was just the start of unwanted state intervention in her plans, and she was placed under a guardianship order.

She upgraded her boat to a Hurley 800, but this was confiscated by the courts.

Finally free to leave the Netherlands. Waving goodbye to well wishers at Den Osse, where she and her father refitted Guppy . Credit: Getty

Frustrated, she wrote a note for her father, cleared out her savings account and flew on her New Zealand passport from Paris to Saint Martin to buy a 30ft Dufour Arpège.

By now a worldwide search warrant had been issued for her, and she was picked up by the island police, and returned to the Netherlands.

Undeterred, Dekker continued to search for the right boat. It was her father who pointed out the extended Jeanneau Gin Fizz advertised in the paper.

Having spent seven years on the hard, Guppy was covered in plants and mould. Dekker’s initial reaction was, ‘Really? Yuk!

‘It looked gross and neglected but Dad and I could see the potential in it. I was also a bit scared because initially I had wanted to circumnavigate in my 7m Hurley 700, which I found easy to handle. This boat was 12.30m/40ft 4in, so much bigger and I thought, could I handle it? Could I even pay for it? But the courts had decided that I needed a bigger boat so there was not much of a choice, plus she was a ketch so the sails are comparatively a little bit smaller and easier to handle, and it was a really strong boat.’

Dekker and her father relocated to Den Osse, in the south of the Netherlands – changing schools and jobs – to work on Guppy.

Laura Dekker – always happy when she is sailing and at one with nature. Credit: Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation

They had just a few months to get the boat ready if Dekker wanted to start her circumnavigation in the summer.

By May 2010, Guppy , with a newly fitted Windpilot windvane , was back in the water, and Dekker began sailing the boat in homewaters before a passage to England and back.

By July, the courts had lifted the guardianship order and she was finally free to leave.

A few weeks later, with her father on board, Dekker left the Netherlands and sailed to Portimão, Portugal to give Guppy a proper shakedown sail.

On 21 August 2010, aged 14, she left Gibraltar to sail around the world singlehanded.

The new Guppy is a Scorpio 72. The hull and interior was built in Taiwan, but the yacht was finished off in England. Credit: Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation

‘I think I was experiencing every single emotion that you can have at the same time. I was just so nervous, but also super-happy, super-excited; I barely slept. But I was missing my family, so I was sad too,’ explained Dekker.

She and Guppy followed the trade winds, sailing to the Canary Islands , Cape Verde Islands, across the Atlantic to Saint Martin, through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific Ocean, through the Torres Strait, across the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope and then back to Saint Martin via the South Atlantic.

She made stops along the way; Customs and Immigration officials never questioned her.

Meeting new people was one of the highlights of her 17-month voyage, and saying goodbye to return to sea was often hard.

‘At the beginning, I remember I would count the days until I was on shore again. I enjoyed sailing, but I enjoyed being on land more. Halfway through the trip that just changed. I really started to love being on the ocean.’

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Laura Dekker said she was lucky with the weather during her circumnavigation.

She sailed through squalls in the Atlantic and Pacific, dodged lightning and steered Guppy through 65 knot winds and steep waves off South Africa.

‘I always just kept going. I always opted to keep going downwind , and then when it got really bad I hand steered because I felt that was the safest option, as the boat surfed really well.’

She said the Torres Strait, between Australia and New Guinea, was some of the most challenging sailing of her voyage.

‘I had really bad weather when I went through it, wind and thunder. My sail ripped in the middle of the strait and I had to take it down and put another one up. It was just really tiring.’

But the calms were worse, especially in the Indian Ocean.

Voyage end in Saint Martin. Laura was 16, and the youngest person to ever solo circumnavigate the world by boat. Credit: Getty

‘I finally accepted that I wasn’t going to be able to change the weather or the winds, and I was sometimes just going to float backwards for a few days.’

Dekker arrived in Saint Martin on 21 January 2012. She was 16, and had just sailed her last leg from South Africa to the Caribbean island in 41 days.

It was the end of her circumnavigation of the world, but she didn’t feel excited; the voyage had been about exploring the world and challenging herself and she had done that along the way.

‘It was really South Africa where I felt I had achieved everything I wanted to, where I felt l had sailed through storms and calms and I had really faced myself and seen the world. Arriving in Saint Martin felt like just another stop,’ she explained.

A hungry press greeted her, their cameras clicking away when all she wanted was a hot shower.

Carrying out electrical work on the new, bigger Guppy . Credit: Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation

She was also itching to continue sailing, and after a few months she threw off Guppy ’s lines and sailed to New Zealand, where she lived onboard the boat for years in Whangarei, finishing school before being accepted at the New Zealand Maritime School in Auckland.

Realising she couldn’t ‘sit still on a chair in school for five years’ she left, got her Yachtmaster Ocean ticket and travelled and delivered boats.

She began working with a marine electrician at Whangarei Girls High, running wilderness expeditions, and it was this which planted a seed that would become the Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation, offering teenagers sailing adventures.

With the support of her partner, Sander Vogelenzang, she designed a boat, but the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic quashed their plans.

Instead, they bought a second-hand Robert Perry-designed Scorpio 72 in France and began changing the interior and installing new systems, rigging and sails.

Up to 10 children, aged between 8 and 16, join Laura Dekker and her family for up to six months at a time. Credit: Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation

Their first trip across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and back lasted six months. Since then they have taken 40 8-16-year-olds on Atlantic circuits and Europe trips, allowing them to learn to sail, build confidence and develop key skills like problem solving.

Some are onboard the yacht – also named Guppy – for six weeks, others for six months, taking in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, the Caribbean before sailing back to Europe via the Azores.

‘They do need to come with the idea that they will learn and change. From day one they have to do everything themselves from cooking and cleaning to joining watches. It is hard work but when you see the changes in them, especially those students who were with us on the first trip, it is so rewarding to see what it has done for them.’

Dekker, Vogelenzang, and another adult sailor make up the crew, alongside students.

Laura and Sander’s son, Tim, is already part of the Guppy crew. Credit: Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation

The couple’s young sons, Tim and Alex are also onboard.

At 27, and a mother, would Dekker allow her children to circumnavigate the world solo at the age of 14?

‘I really don’t know. I had this opportunity and it has absolutely made me the person I am today, so I can’t really say no, but it does depend upon the child. The only thing I can say is that I will definitely raise them to follow their dreams and their goals, and let them fall on their noses and do as much as possible themselves while I’m still able to catch them if they don’t manage.’

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.

Laura Dekker has certainly faced her challenges, and few could argue that the resulting experience has been anything short of extraordinary.

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The true story of True Spirit : What really happened on Jessica Watson's solo sail around the world

EW breaks down fact vs. fiction in Netflix's inspiring movie based on the incredible true story of the 16-year-old who attempted to become the youngest person to sail alone around the world.

Sydney Bucksbaum is a writer at Entertainment Weekly covering all things pop culture – but TV is her one true love. She currently lives in Los Angeles but grew up in Chicago so please don't make fun of her accent when it slips out.

Warning: This article contains spoilers about True Spirit, now streaming on Netflix.

True Spirit , Netflix's latest book-to-movie adaptation, is an inspiring tale about Jessica Watson, a teen who endeavors to become the youngest person to sail alone, nonstop, and unassisted around the world. Starring Titan 's Teagan Croft and based on the book of the same name, the film follows her harrowing journey as she attempts to sail 23,000 nautical miles around the globe in 8 months — something no other 16-year-old had ever accomplished before. But what makes it even more amazing is that it actually happened in real life.

Below, EW breaks down the biggest moments from the film and the true story behind them.

Is Jessica Watson a real person?

Yes! Watson exists, and she wrote the book about her own experience circumnavigating the globe upon which the movie is based. "There's so many layers of emotion in it for me," Watson tells EW of watching the film for the first time. "It's amazing, and Teagan's performance is extraordinary. It's me, but it's also something else, which I just love."

After playing half-demon empath Raven on the DC Comics series Titans for years, Croft was excited to finally take on a role closer to home. "Playing Raven on Titans , it's purple hair, very sullen," she says. "And the [ True Spirit ] producers needed to double-check that I wasn't like that in real life, that I'd be able to play Jess. I cracked a couple jokes, made a couple remarks, and they saw I'd be able to pull off perky. It's much more in my wheelhouse. And being able to act in my own accent was something I hadn't had the opportunity to do before. It was nice to have that burden lifted."

Watson and Croft met in person for the first time over dinner before the movie began filming, and they had a conversation with director Sarah Spillane about how the onscreen version of Watson wouldn't just be an imitation. "Then we also went sailing the next day altogether, and we met a few times up after that," Croft says. "It was so weird and awkward at first. I felt a weird guilt, like, 'Hello, I'm playing you.' But she was so lovely about it, and we get on really well now."

Did she really attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world?

She sure did — Watson, now 29, departed from Sydney, Australia,, on Oct. 18, 2009, and returned on May 15, 2010, just before her 17th birthday.

Did she succeed?

Well, it's complicated and depends on who you ask. Watson sailed an estimated 18,582 nautical miles, crossing through the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, all on her own and without stopping. But ultimately, the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) ruled that Watson was ineligible for the record, having traveled just short of the minimum 21,600 nautical miles necessary to claim circumnavigation of the globe. In response to the decision and criticism, Watson wrote on her blog at the time, "If I haven't been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time!"

The movie notably doesn't mention the controversy about whether or not she earned the title of the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the world. Once she returns to Sydney Harbour amid a massive celebration, the credits roll immediately. "The movie and what Jess is all about is not about the record," Croft says. "That's not what drove her. That's not what she was sailing for. She was sailing for the love of it. The point of the movie is about this girl who had a goal that was crazy and dangerous, and what she did was incredible."

"The thing is, it's a bit of an invented controversy because there actually is no record," Watson tells EW. "There's no 'youngest' record because the body that does official sailing records doesn't recognize youngest records, which is understandable. So I don't really understand how there can be controversy over a record that doesn't exist. The voyage and the way I sailed around the world was very similar to what other people did, but there's actually no official rules, so it's a bit hard to not comply with rules that don't quite exist."

All these years later, Watson isn't concerned about any official records or titles. "It really doesn't worry me because it was about the adventure," she adds. "But also, gosh, people really feel the need to add some drama or find a way to almost diminish it slightly. And I'm like, 'Cool, you guys do that. I'm cool with that.' Maybe I think about it too simplistically, but I'm just like, 'Why are we arguing about the number of nautical miles for a record that doesn't exist?' There is no set nautical miles. You can't argue over a rule that doesn't exist."

Did all the characters in the movie exist?

All except for two — and those two were still based on real people. In the film, Avatar : The Way of the Water 's Cliff Curtis plays her sailing coach Ben, but Watson reveals he was just a "beautiful representation of a few people who otherwise wouldn't have been able to be portrayed," from the crew who helped her repair her boat to the group of people advising her over the phone about the weather during her voyage and more.

Her parents were pretty much exactly as they appear in the movie, played by Anna Paquin and Josh Lawson . "Mum was the one who firstly read me Jesse Martin's book from the get-go, which was what inspired me to do this," Watson says. "She had the same curiosity and inspiration for the voyage as me, whereas dad really didn't believe it was going to happen for much longer. And then, obviously, he was quite reluctant, as you see. That is probably pretty accurate in terms of mom and dad's dynamic."

Croft struggled the most filming the scenes where Jessica talks to her family over the phone during her journey. "At that point, the other actors were gone, and it was just me, so sometimes that was really difficult to get into the scene," she says. "But what was lucky in a twisted way was that COVID was really big in Australia at that time, and so the borders between my home state and the state we were filming in had closed. I'd just come from filming Titans , I hadn't seen my sisters or my dad for seven months by the end of shooting True Spirit , so I was able to pull a real, genuine emotion from my real life from the real phone calls I was having."

Watson adds that the reporter, played by Todd Lasance, was fictional but represents all of the members of the media who were aggressively and publicly criticizing her plans. "There were some that were pretty damn similar to him," she adds with a laugh. "I was protected slightly from some of the intensity of it at the time because I was just so single-mindedly focused on this thing, which you need to be to do something like that. It was my team and my poor family who caught the worst of that, but it was intense."

She continues, "I can really understand where people were coming from, and it's kind of beautiful that there was so much concern. But at the same time, I don't think people really understood that there had been years and years of preparation. And this is a really safe boat, it's done this a number of times. It's not as crazy as it seems if you've got no idea about that world."

Did her pre-voyage trial run really end in a massive collision?

Unfortunately, yes. Watson forgot to turn on the proximity alarms before taking a quick nap, and a few minutes later, her boat (named Ella's Pink Lady), crashed into a cargo ship. "That collision scene's one of the ones that's really accurate, so that one's pretty intense for me," Watson says. "That was something I still have the occasional nightmare about, but it's so important to the story. It really made me in a way because having to go through that and find the strength to continue really set me up for being able to deal with the storms at sea."

Did she really leave her hairbrush at home?

In a moment of levity in the movie, Jessica realizes she forgot to pack a hairbrush for her long journey and tapes two forks together to detangle her hair for months. That did happen ... but not on her long trip around the world. "That happened on a sea trial," Watson admits. "So not quite the whole voyage. And actually, I got the idea from Jesse Martin who did forget his hairbrush for his trip and used a fork."

Did she battle dyslexia during her journey?

Watson is dyslexic in real life, and she loves how the movie accurately portrays the struggles she faced whenever she got stressed and messed up her longitude and latitude coordinates. "So many people can relate to this, and it's not far off from my reality," Watson says, before admitting with a laugh, "I mean, I like to think that I was never that bad with my lats and longs and getting muddled up. But at the same time, it's also based on the truth that mum did used to call me out when I'm tired or flustered, and I was getting stuff like that wrong."

Did she get knocked out during a storm?

In the first big storm she faces at sea, Jessica is hit in the head with a frying pan and gets knocked out. But it turns out that entire scene was made up for the movie. "I feel bad calling out some of the things that weren't quite true, but no, no frying pan," Watson says. "Although there was legitimate danger with stuff flying around inside the boat in a storm — household everyday objects become deadly. Keeping your cabin tidy is something I should have been better at."

Did her boat get stuck for a week without any wind?

In the movie, Jessica hits an emotional low point when there's no breeze for an entire week. She gets frustrated and ends up arguing with Ben over the radio. That was all fictionalized for the film but was based on real emotions Watson felt throughout her trip. "In reality, you never get such long stretches without wind," she says. "Often, it's more like a couple of days. And even within that, you might get a few puffs along the way. It is, however, very true to what that experience is like for a sailor, how incredibly frustrating it is to just be at the mercy of the elements and just waiting for the wind to come back. There's nothing you can do. Emotionally, they were some of the really tough days out there."

Did a massive storm temporarily sink her boat?

Onscreen, Jessica's journey ends with her biggest test yet, as multiple major storms merged into one. The giant waves flip her boat upside down, and she gets stuck 15 ft. underwater for an extended period of time. It's a terrifying scene, and it turns out, the movie version isn't even the full story.

"There were seven knockdowns," Watson reveals. "Not all of them were quite that bad. A lot of the time, it's just the boat being knocked over. But the 15 ft. underwater is real because my emergency beacon did self-activate as the boat sank. That happened. But the time I was upside down for, it certainly felt like a long time. I haven't really got a concept of how long it was in reality, but we are talking seconds compared to what we see in the movie, which stretches on forever in minutes and minutes and minutes. That's a little bit of an exaggeration there, but it was real to the experience of it feeling like forever."

Was her return to Sydney as epic as it appeared?

Absolutely! When Jessica arrives in Sydney Harbour at the end of her journey, it looks like all of Australia came to celebrate her accomplishment. And as the credits roll, real footage from that moment plays, showing the real Watson reuniting with her family. Incredibly, a young Croft was there in attendance that day.

"I was actually there in Sydney Harbour when she came in, but I'd forgotten since I was only six," Croft says. "When I came across this script, my parents were like, 'We were there!' I've been trying to figure out where we were in the crowd to see if you can see me in that footage. Maybe I'm there in a little pink skirt or something ridiculous."

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The 7 Youngest People to Sail Around the World Alone

It takes a lot of courage, determination, and skill to navigate the unpredictable waters of the ocean, especially when you're all by yourself. But for some young sailors, the challenge is irresistible. Let me introduce you to the seven youngest sailors who circumnavigated the world alone and tell you about their incredible and inspiring journeys.

The 7 youngest people to sail around the world include Jessica Watson, age 16; Laura Dekker, who circumnavigated the world solo at age 16; and Jesse Martin, who sailed solo around the world at age 18. The list also includes Abby Sunderland, Zac Sunderland, Michael Perham, and David Dicks, all under 20 years of age.

Currently, Laura Dekker holds the record as the youngest person to complete a solo circumnavigation of the globe. Let's take an in-depth look at her journey and how long it took her to sail around the world.

• Laura Dekker continues to hold the record as the youngest person to sail solo around the world, having completed her journey at age 16 and traveling around 27,000 nautical miles.
• Although Jessica Watson was also 16 when she completed her sail around the globe, her claims have not been recognized as she fell short of the nautical miles required by the Council for a sailor to rightfully claim they traveled the world.
• Abby Sunderland could have also taken Laura Dekker's spot, but her failed attempt caused her to get stuck in the middle of the Indian Ocean, rescued by a French Vessel, and abandon her journey to set sail around the globe.

The Youngest Sailors Who Sailed Around the World

If you're looking for inspiration, look no further than the youngest solo sailors who have sailed around the world alone. These teenagers have shown incredible courage and determination, defying the odds and braving the elements to achieve their dreams. Here are some of the most famous young sailors and their incredible journeys.

The solo journey of Jessica Watson around the world

Jessica Watson is an Australian sailor who, at the age of just 16, became the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world. She set sail from Sydney in October 2009 and returned to Sydney in May 2010, having sailed over 23,000 nautical miles.

Jessica faced many challenges during her journey, including rough seas, storms, and equipment failures, but she persevered and became an inspiration to many. She sailed non-stop and unassisted for 210 days, battling loneliness along the way.

Watson was named the 2011 Young Australian of the Year and awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2012 for her achievement. Her journey, chronicled in the book and movie True Spirit , is a testament to the power of perseverance and the human spirit.

Laura Dekker circumnavigated the world at age 14

Laura Dekker is a Dutch sailor who, at the age of 14, set off on a solo circumnavigation of the world. She completed her journey in January 2012, at the age of 16, becoming the youngest person to have sailed solo around the world. Laura's journey took her over 27,000 nautical miles, and she faced many challenges along the way, including equipment failures and rough seas.

She originally announced her plan to circumnavigate the globe single-handedly in 2009, when she was 14, but was faced with a long legal battle with Dutch authorities who tried to block her trip. Dekker finally set sail in 2010 and completed her journey in 2012 at the age of 16.

She faced many challenges during her 518-day voyage , including a pirate scare off the coast of Somalia, but she also experienced the beauty and solitude of the open sea. Dekker's story inspired a documentary film, "Maidentrip," which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2013. She also kept a blog of her whole journey on her website, the Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation .

Jesse Martin sailed around the world at age 18

Jesse Martin is an Australian sailor who, at the age of 18, became the youngest person to have sailed solo around the world, non-stop and unassisted. He set off from Melbourne in December 1998 and returned to Melbourne in October 1999, having sailed over 27,000 nautical miles. Jesse's journey took him to many different countries, including South Africa.

He completed the journey in a 34-foot sloop named Lionheart, which he had purchased with his own savings. Jesse set sail from Melbourne, Australia on December 8, 1998, and sailed eastward around the world, crossing the equator twice and rounding the five great capes of the Southern Ocean. He encountered many challenges on his journey, including severe weather, equipment failures, and loneliness.

Despite the challenges, Jesse persevered and completed his journey on October 31, 1999, after sailing for 328 days. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his accomplishment.

Abby Sunderland attempted to sail the world at age 16

Abby Sunderland is an American sailor who, at the age of 16, attempted to become the youngest person to have sailed solo around the world. She started her journey on January 23, 2010, from Marina del Rey, California, and was sailing a 40-foot yacht named "Wild Eyes".

However, on June 10, 2010, while sailing in the Indian Ocean, her yacht was hit by a massive storm that caused her mast to break, leaving her stranded in the middle of the ocean. She was rescued by a French fishing vessel after activating two emergency beacons. Her rescue sparked a lot of controversy, with some people criticizing her parents for allowing her to attempt such a dangerous feat at a young age.

But Abby Sunderland defended her decision to attempt the solo circumnavigation, saying that she was well-prepared for the journey and was aware of the risks involved. Despite this setback, Abby's journey inspired many, and she remains an inspiration to young sailors around the world.

She continued to pursue her passion for sailing and has since participated in various sailing competitions and expeditions. She has also written a book about her experience titled "Unsinkable: A Young Woman's Courageous Battle on the High Seas" .

Zac Sunderland and his journey as the youngest person to sail the world alone at age 17

Zac Sunderland is an American sailor who, at the age of 17, became the youngest person to have sailed solo around the world. He started his journey on June 14, 2008, from Marina del Rey, California, and was sailing a 36-foot yacht named "Intrepid".

He sailed across the Pacific Ocean, through the Panama Canal, across the Atlantic Ocean, and around the Cape of Good Hope before returning to California on July 16, 2009, after sailing for 13 months. He sailed over 28,000 nautical miles.

Zac Sunderland's journey was not without its challenges. He encountered rough seas, pirate threats, storms bringing 30-foot waves, and even an electrical fire, but he persevered and completed his journey. His achievement made him the youngest person to sail solo around the world, a record that was later broken by Laura Dekker, who completed her journey at the age of 16.

After his successful circumnavigation, Zac Sunderland continued to pursue his passion for sailing and has since participated in various sailing competitions and expeditions. He blogged his full experience on his own website .

Michael Perham completed his globe solo sailing at age 17

Michael Perham is a British sailor who, at the age of 17, became the youngest person to have sailed solo around the world via the Southern Ocean, completing his journey in August 2009, at the age of 18. He started his journey on November 15, 2008, from Portsmouth, England, and was sailing a 50-foot yacht named "Totallymoney.com".

He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific Ocean, and around the Cape of Good Hope before returning to England on August 27, 2009, after sailing for 9 months. Michael's journey took him over 30,000 nautical miles, and he faced many challenges along the way, including rough seas and equipment failures.

David Dicks has become one of the youngest people to sail around the world at age 18

David Dicks is an Australian sailor who completed a solo circumnavigation of the world at the age of 18. He started his journey on November 22, 2009, from Hobart, Tasmania, and was sailing a 34-foot yacht named "Seaflight". He returned to Tasmania on May 13, 2010, after sailing for 172 days.

During his journey, David faced many challenges including a rough storm in the Southern Ocean. He describes how the waves were like "moving mountains" and how the storm caused damage to his yacht, including a broken boom and a ripped sail. Despite the challenges, David managed to navigate through the storm to continue his journey and share his journey with people around the world.

Preparations For a Solo Sailing Around The World

To prepare for a solo circumnavigation of the world, ensure that you have the right equipment and skills to navigate the high seas.

Firstly, you will need a seaworthy vessel. Many of the youngest sailors who have completed this feat have done so on small sailboats, such as the S&S 34 yacht, Spray, Intrepid, and Seaflight. These boats are sturdy, reliable, and can withstand the harsh conditions of the open ocean. The cheapest, yet sturdiest boat to sail around the world is the Hurley 22 .

In addition to a suitable vessel, you might also need to check if you have the necessary equipment onboard. This includes a mast, sails, and radar to help you navigate and avoid obstacles. You may also need to have a backup plan in case of emergencies, such as a satellite phone or emergency beacon.

For a complete list of things you need before setting sail around the world, read this article: Everything You Need to Sail Around the World (by an expert)

Perhaps consider having a support team in place before setting off on your journey. This can include family and friends who can provide emotional support and help with logistics, such as restocking supplies and arranging repairs.

Before setting sail, the most crucial thing is to develop your sailing skills . Many of the youngest sailors who have circumnavigated the world solo have spent years sailing and honing their skills. You should be comfortable with navigation, boat maintenance, and emergency procedures.

You must also have knowledge about the sailing seasons around the world , and know the safest routes to sail. Read this article to know which routes to take and which to avoid.

Lastly, you will need to understand the costs associated with sailing around the world, so you can better prepare for the journey and ensure that you have the financial resources to complete it safely and successfully. This may involve saving up for several years, seeking out sponsorships or partnerships, or finding other creative ways to fund your journey. Here's how much you'll need to prepare to set sail around the world.

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Why a 14-Year-Old Girl Decided to Sail Around the World Alone

A film follows the journey of Laura Dekker as she attempts to circumnavigate the globe.

In 2010, 14-year-old Laura Dekker took to the seas in her sailboat, Guppy , on a quest to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone. Maidentrip , a forthcoming feature-length documentary, follows Dekker on her voyage, told largely through footage that Dekker shot while at sea. Far from her family and without a support team, Dekker goes where the wind takes her. In an exclusive excerpt of the film above, Dekker sails from French Polynesia to Australia.

In 2009, when Dekker first announced plans to sail the world, Dutch authorities prevented her from setting sail for a year. “Of course there are people who say you’re crazy, but it’s a dream. A great, great dream. I want to sail, I want to go around the world. I want to see all the places and not always the stupid same thing,” says Dekker at the start of the film. “I lived my first five years at sea and ever since, all I’ve wanted is to return to that life.” In January 2012, after 17 months at sea, Laura successfully completed her voyage.

In an interview with The Atlantic ’s Video channel, filmmaker Jillian Schlesinger discusses the film:

The Atlantic : Why do you think Dekker’s voyage has been such a polarizing subject? After she finished sailing, and with Maidentrip on the festival circuit, has the conversation changed?

Jillian Schlesinger : I think anytime a young person is doing something so far outside the realm of what is considered normal and conventionally accepted, it ruffles a lot of feathers. Some people applaud and stand up for it, others call it insane and irresponsible. Everyone brings their own experiences and values to considering it, however I noticed the more I read the more it seemed Laura's own voice was missing from the conversation about her voyage. Consequently, many opinions may have been formed without examining Laura's unique circumstances and worldview. The film allows people into an extraordinarily remote and unique world. It's hard to imagine being more at home and secure at sea than on land, but that is Laura's reality. I think having Laura's voice and perspective represented in the broader conversation about her story, free from the hyper-sensationalized media filter, has changed the conversation in many ways, especially challenging a lot of misguided, gender-biased language used to talk about her story early on. And now that the trip is in the past and she succeeded, that certainly changes things dramatically.

How did you come to meet Dekker and make the film?

I read about Laura in the New York Times in 2009 and immediately wanted to make the film. I spent some time thinking about the concept and approach and then reached out to Laura with a detailed illustrated proposal and a long personal letter about my experience and intentions. Laura connected to something in my proposal, responded, and we began discussing the details of how we would make this thing happen.

What were the biggest challenges in making Maidentrip a reality?

This was a very challenging first film to make, but I'm glad I didn't go into it with that mindset. Most of the creative and logistical challenges were really exciting, like the challenge making a film about something unfolding as it's being documented and happening largely outside of your presence and outside of your control. It required a lot of trust—trust in Laura, in other collaborators, in the universe. It's crazy now to look back on how it all came together, but at the time it was all unfolding, it seemed so hard to imagine that it would eventually become something that people could see and react to.

What was your relationship with Dekker like during filming? How involved was she from a creative standpoint?

Laura's creative input and our collaborative working relationship were essential to every stage of the filmmaking process . I would say our relationship has been much more of a deep friendship and creative partnership than what I imagine to be a typical filmmaker-subject bond, if there even is one. When I would go to meet her in various ports along her route, the filming was always a secondary consideration to our many adventures. While we often had a camera in tow, the spirit of our collaboration was much more akin to two friends working on a project together, rather than me, the filmmaker, making a film about Laura, the subject.

What is Dekker up to today?

Laura is living on her own in New Zealand, doing a bit of traveling and speaking about her experiences. She recently got her driver's license. She's also busy plotting her next adventure.

Maidentrip is a film directed by Jillian Schlesinger and produced by Schlesinger and Emily McAllister, with support from Louis Venezia . The design and animation were created by Moth Collective .

Maidentrip begins its U.S. theatrical run on January 17. Check out screening times and locations here . For more information on the film, please visit its website .

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Behind the Scenes of ‘Maidentrip’: 17-Year-Old Laura Dekker’s Solo Sail Around the World

To raise adventurous children, as Laura's father learned when she and Guppy set sail, means that someday, you have to let them go

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

“I was born on a boat in New Zealand. I lived my first five years at sea. And ever since, all I’ve wanted is to return to that life.” So begins Maidentrip , a remarkable new documentary about Laura Dekker, the 17-year-old sailor who, in 2012, became the youngest person to sail around the world alone. The film debuted on Sunday at South by Southwest in Austin, before a crowd of about 300 people, and will make the rounds on the festival circuit this spring.

Raising Rippers

Laura’s story sparked an international controversy in 2009, when she announced her plans to attempt a solo circumnavigation. She was 14 at the time and quickly became embroiled in a contentious, 10-month court battle with the Dutch government, which deemed the voyage unsafe for the teen and tried to remove her from her father’s custody. Laura and her father prevailed, and in August 2010, she set sail from the Netherlands in her 38-foot ketch, Guppy .

Maidentrip documents her 17 months alone at sea. There was no chase boat, support staff, or film crew. Laura shot all of the footage aboard Guppy herself, using a Sony Handy Cam she rigged to the boat. The effect is an intimate, arresting portrait of the young sailor, who for much of the film stares wide-eyed into the camera, as though she can’t quite believe she’s doing it, either. Though you never see the camera, it takes on its own personality, a kind of default crew and confidante for the solo skipper.

Director Jillian Schlesinger, 29, who’d read about Laura in The New York Times in 2009 and approached her with the idea of making a documentary about the trip, wanted the project to feel organic and unscripted. “I wanted to let her tell her own story, and give her a voice, in a way that the sensational mainstream media hadn’t,” says Schlesinger. “Doing something so extreme with so much passion is an art, and that’s how I approached it with Laura. I was really interested in finding out why, as a 14-year-old, she wanted to do this. She had no interest in being famous. She really just loves to sail.”

Schlesinger, who makes her living writing and producing TV promos, spent three years working on Maidentrip . It’s her first film. Like Laura’s voyage, the project became her own epic quest. “I always had a dream of making films,” she says. “There are a million reasons not to follow your dream, but as Laura once said to me, ‘You don’t have to know that you can do something. You just have to try.’”

Schlesinger met Laura en route nine times during the course of the 17-month journey, collecting footage, giving her topics for recording unscripted voice diaries, and occasionally shooting dry-land video. In the Galapagos, Laura convinced her to hop a sailboat with a Canadian family for an unplanned “race” across the Pacific. “After wasting a lot of money changing plane tickets, I finally learned not to make firm plans when I met up with Laura, so I’d bought a one-way ticket,” recalls Schlesinger, whose father dropped out of school to sail to Central America. “Sailing across the Pacific started out as a joke. It was daunting to think about being away from the world for three weeks, but I knew it would be compelling to film Laura at sea. In the end, though, we never saw her. We left later than she did and even though we were in a faster boat, she was busting ass to the Marquesas. She got there a day ahead of us.”

No surprise. Laura was born to sail. When she was five, she and her parents returned to the Netherlands, but later divorced. Laura moved in with her dad, who worked in a boatyard, so she could keep sailing. She got her first dingy when she was six, sailed throughout Holland during the summers, and made her first solo crossing, to England, when she was 13. In the film’s early, archival footage, we see a small smiling sailor dwarfed by her life jacket, sailing a tiny dingy with her dog, Spot.

But out on Guppy on the open sea, Laura grows up fast. She cuts her hair, dyes it red, learns to cook and eat ravioli without spilling it when huge swells hit, starts to swear, celebrates her 16th birthday in Darwin, Australia, with her dad, who flies in to help her repair her sails after a wind-battered crossing, and wrestles with her own identity as a sailor and a daughter. In one poignant scene in French Polynesia, she replaces her Dutch flag with the flag of New Zealand, country of her birth. “I don’t have any real connection to Holland anymore,” she says. “I don’t want to go back. I don’t really have a home. Home to me is Guppy .”

Though she shares a deep love of sailing with her father, and both he and her mother meet up with her along the way, the farther she gets from home, the more her family recedes. The overwhelming impression you get from Maidentrip is of a young girl bobbing happily alone on the enormous ocean. Except for a few moments, when she sets out from the Canary Islands to cross the Atlantic and is so homesick she can’t eat for two days, and later when she passes through the Panama Canal—a point-of-no-return where the voyage “just started to get serious”— Laura seems utterly at home at sea, at peace with her solitude, fiercely independent, and unflappable in the face of stiff challenges.

When a storm approaches in the Atlantic, she raises an eyebrow at the camera and starts cursing, “Shit, shit!” But then the first waves slap her bow, and she shouts, “Woohoo! That was so beautiful! Really super awesome!” She grows increasingly comfortable with long crossings—47 days on the Indian Ocean—and less interested in going ashore. “Now I’ve really started to like the long passages more, just because they give you so much time to think,” Laura says in one of her voice diaries. She rounds the Cape of Good Hope in huge swells and a storm that most seasoned sailors would sit out. Not Laura. “I didn’t feel anything but focused. Being scared was totally gone. I didn’t feel that I was hungry or tired. I was just doing it.”

By the time she cruises into St. Martin, in January 2012, bypassing Holland to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe—27,000 nautical miles in 519 days—her transformation from girl to self-reliant solo captain is complete. “I wanted the storms. I wanted the calms. I wanted to feel loneliness,” she says. “And now I know all these things. It’s the end of the dream I had as a kid, and it’s the beginning of my life as a sailor.”

When we last see Laura, she has taken on a crew and is bound for New Zealand, where she lives now, working at a dive shop, racing, studying for her captain’s license, and plotting her next big voyage. There’s talk of a circumnavigation of the Americas, an Arctic Ocean passage, for which she’ll need a steel boat.

It’s impossible to watch Maidentrip and not want to immediately start scheming your own audacious adventure. Laura’s unscripted optimism is contagious. Last night, my four-year-old daughter sat rapt at our kitchen table, watching parts of a movie in which a girl only 10 years older than she is accomplishes the impossible dream. As a mother and adventurer, I can only hope that some of Laura’s daring and passion rubs off on Pippa. To raise adventurous children, as Laura’s father learned when she and Guppy set sail, means that someday, you have to let them go.

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Laura Dekker Interview, Part 1

By: Pat Reynolds Sailing Fun

In the years between 2008 and 2010 the sailing world and beyond saw a wave of very young sailors embarking upon monstrous undertakings that would give pause to the most seasoned mariners. California sailor Zac Sunderland circled the globe alone in his Islander 36 becoming the first person under 18 to accomplish the journey. His sister Abby attempted to be the youngest unassisted non-stop but dismasted in the Indian Ocean. Months later, Aussie Jessica Watson became the holder of that honor and in August of 2009 British sailor Mike Perham would circle the globe and become the youngest solo round-the-world sailor. All of these young adventurers were between 16 and 17 and their actions stirred enormous controversy, but when in that same year 14-year old Laura Dekker from the Netherlands announced that she planned on sailing around the world alone in her 38’ Jeanneau ketch, Guppy, people lost their minds.

It seemed utterly insane that a 14-year-old girl would skipper a 38’ foot boat around the world by herself. Government agencies in her home country of the Netherlands attempted to stop it and there was an enormous negative public outcry regarding the proposed voyage. But Laura Dekker is nothing if not tenacious and the moment she got through the bureaucracy and legal red tape – she untied the dock lines and started to sail around the planet. Five hundred and eighteen days later she would become the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone. And while this was quite an achievement, Dekker never cared about the record – she truly just wanted to go sailing.

Laura Dekker recently gave a presentation at a fund raiser for LifeSail , a Los Angeles non-profit that uses sailing as a vehicle to teach life lessons to kids. As fate would have it, Dekker has donated her beloved Guppy, the very boat she did the trip on, to LifeSail. She has similar ideals about sailing’s educational value and soon the boat will make its way from New Zealand to LA via Fiji and Hawaii.

To keep up with what Laura is up to, visit www.lauradekker.nl and to purchase her book you can find it on amazon.com .

Continue reading part 2 of our interview with Laura >>

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Laura Dekker, 16, becomes youngest ever to sail around the world solo

Laura Dekker , a 16-year-old Dutch girl, today apparently became the youngest person to sail around the globe — even though she interrupted her year-long journey at several points — when she arrived at the Caribbean port of St. Maarten, according to the Associated Press .

The news agency reported that a crowd of supporters were waiting as Dekker dropped anchor, cheering with delight as Dekker crossed the dock in tears, accompanied by her mother.

More from GlobalPost : Queen Elizabeth II may still get a yacht

There were moments where I was like, 'What the hell am I doing out here?,' but I never wanted to stop," she was quoted as telling reporters. "It's a dream, and I wanted to do it."

Guinness World Records did not verify her claims, according to the AP, as they no longer record such attempts, seeking to discourage them as dangerous. The agency also said Dutch officials sought to stop Dekker, believing she was risking her life.

Dekker marked her 16th birthday during the trip and launched the journey two months after Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old American, was rescued in the middle of the Indian Ocean, also while trying to circumnavigate the globe by boat, according to The Sydney Morning Herald . An Australian, Jessica Watson, completed a 210 circumnavigation at 16 but was a few months older than Dekker, the newspaper said.

More from GlobalPost : Titanic artifacts to go up for auction

According to The AP, Dekker anchored at ports of call along the way to rest, repair her 38-foot vessel and study (Dutch authorities said she should be in school). She also surfed, went scuba diving and played the flute during a trip of 27,000 nautical miles which took her through the Canary Islands, Fiji, the Galapagos, Australia, South Africa, Tonga and Panama.

"Her story is just amazing," one of Dekker's fans, 10-year-old Jody Bell of Connecticut, was quoted as saying. "I can't imagine someone her age going out on sea all by herself."

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Youngest Solo Circumnavigation: Who Holds the Record?

Alex Morgan

Sailing around the world solo is an astonishing feat of human achievement, requiring immense determination, skill, and courage. The quest to be the youngest person to accomplish this remarkable journey has captivated the world’s attention. Solo sailing, as the name suggests, refers to the act of sailing alone without any crew or assistance, relying solely on one’s own capabilities and resourcefulness.

The record for the youngest person to sail around the world solo is a significant milestone in sailing history. This article delves into the incredible achievement, the challenges faced, the preparation required, and the impact it has had on aspiring sailors.

The journey itself is a test of endurance and resilience. Facing unpredictable weather conditions, navigating treacherous waters, and spending months away from civilization, the youngest person to sail around the world solo is truly a remarkable individual.

Throughout the journey, various challenges are encountered, both physical and mental. From battling fierce storms and turbulent seas to coping with loneliness and isolation, these young sailors face a multitude of difficulties along their arduous voyage. The timeline and route taken during the circumnavigation can vary depending on weather patterns, but each journey is a testament to human determination and the spirit of adventure.

Preparation and training are crucial components of a successful solo circumnavigation. Physical and mental preparation is essential to ensure the sailor’s well-being throughout the journey. acquiring navigation and survival skills is vital to handle any unexpected situations that may arise at sea.

Risks and safety measures are paramount in solo sailing. Weather and sea conditions can be unforgiving, requiring sailors to anticipate and adapt to ever-changing circumstances. Having emergency protocols in place is crucial, as it allows for swift and effective responses to any unforeseen incidents.

Legality and regulations play a significant role in solo circumnavigation. Age restrictions and legal requirements vary depending on the country, but adhering to the regulations ensures the safety and well-being of the young sailor.

The accomplishments of these young adventurers have had a profound impact on the sailing community and beyond. Their incredible journey inspires aspiring sailors to push their boundaries and pursue their dreams, showing that anything is possible with determination and dedication.

Key takeaway:

• Setting records in solo sailing: The youngest person ever to sail around the world solo holds an impressive record, showcasing determination and skill in this challenging sport.
• The journey’s challenges and triumphs: Sailing around the world solo poses numerous obstacles and difficulties, but it also offers incredible personal growth and a sense of accomplishment.
• Inspiring the next generation of sailors: This achievement serves as an inspiration to young adventurers and aspiring sailors, motivating them to pursue their dreams and embrace the wonders of solo sailing.

What is Solo Sailing?

Solo sailing, also known as sailing alone , is the act of operating a boat without any crew members on board . It encompasses the skills of navigation , decision-making , and executing tasks single-handedly . When engaging in solo sailing , sailors are accountable for various responsibilities including steering , adjusting sails , handling emergencies , and navigating through challenging conditions. This form of sailing necessitates qualities such as self-reliance , resilience , and a comprehensive understanding of sailing techniques and boat handling .

Solo sailors often embark on extensive journeys, such as circumnavigating the world , to assess their abilities and surpass their limitations. Undertaking solo sailing is a physically and mentally demanding endeavor that necessitates meticulous planning and preparation. Despite the obstacles encountered along the way, solo sailing offers a gratifying experience, enabling sailors to forge a bond with nature, experience freedom and accomplishment, and cultivate self-reliance .

Despite the inherent risks, solo sailing has garnered popularity among adventurers and sailing enthusiasts who seek to challenge their capabilities. It has served as inspiration for numerous young sailors to pursue their passion for sailing. Solo sailing exemplifies the indomitable human spirit of exploration , perseverance , and the aspiration to conquer the vast seas. Who Is The Youngest Person To Sail Around The World Solo

Fun fact: Laura Dekker holds the title for the youngest person to sail around the world solo , accomplishing this remarkable feat at the age of 16.

To achieve the record for the youngest person to sail around the world solo , certain factors must be taken into account. First, there is an age requirement , as the record can only be obtained by individuals younger than the previous record holder. The journey must be completed without any assistance or additional crew members , making solo navigation a crucial aspect of the record. This means that the individual must handle all aspects of the journey, including navigation , sailing , and boat maintenance , alone.

The route taken must be a global one , circumnavigating the entire world and crossing all longitudes , while also touching multiple continents . In order to claim the record officially, accurate documentation is essential. This includes evidence such as GPS logs , photographs , and witness statements . These documents allow for verification by the relevant authorities or record-keeping organizations.

Moreover, endurance and skill are vital for sailing around the world solo. This demanding task requires exceptional sailing skills , as well as physical endurance and mental fortitude . The record-holder must demonstrate proficiency in navigating diverse conditions and overcoming various obstacles encountered during the journey.

By fulfilling all of these requirements, the record for the youngest person to sail around the world solo can be achieved, ensuring their rightful place in maritime history .

Who is the Youngest Person to Sail Around the World Solo?

The youngest person to sail around the world solo is Laura Dekker . Who is the Youngest Person to Sail Around the World Solo? She achieved this at age 16.

Laura began her journey in August 2010 and finished in January 2012. During her voyage, Laura faced challenges like bad weather, navigation problems, and the emotional toll of being alone for long periods.

Preparing for such a journey involves physical and mental preparation, improving navigation and survival skills, and complying with regulations. Safety measures, including emergency protocols and monitoring weather and sea conditions, are crucial for success.

Laura Dekker’s achievement is inspiring for young adventurers worldwide. It shows that age is not a limitation when pursuing dreams. If you want to embark on a solo sailing adventure, make sure to stay determined, prepared, and safe.

Pro-tip: Research and familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of solo circumnavigation for a smooth journey.

The Journey

Embarking on an extraordinary journey, we delve into the remarkable feats, incredible challenges, and fascinating experiences entailed in sailing around the world solo . Keeping our eyes fixed on the horizon, we’ll explore the daunting challenges faced along the way and uncover the gripping timeline and route that shaped this audacious accomplishment . So buckle up and get ready to set sail as we uncover the captivating tale of the youngest person to conquer the vastness of our oceans .

Challenges Faced During the Journey

Navigating the challenges faced during a solo sailing journey requires careful preparation and training. Aspiring solo sailors should acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to handle these challenges.

Seeking guidance from experienced solo sailors , undergoing physical and mental preparation, and cultivating navigation and survival skills are crucial steps in overcoming these obstacles. Understanding weather and sea conditions and implementing proper emergency protocols can enhance journey safety.

Being well-prepared and adaptable allows solo sailors to navigate the challenges faced during the journey and enjoy the incredible experience of sailing solo around the world.

Timeline and Route

The timeline and route of a solo sailing journey are of utmost importance. Here is a breakdown of a typical solo circumnavigation’s timeline and route:

Starting Point: Port of Departure

Duration: Approximately 9-12 months

Main Stops:

• Cape Town, South Africa
• Sydney, Australia
• Cape Horn, South America
• Falkland Islands
• Tahiti, French Polynesia
• Cape Leeuwin, Australia
• Cape of Good Hope, South Africa

Port of Arrival:

Duration and main stops are not specified.

During the journey, solo sailors face challenges such as unpredictable weather, rough seas, and isolation. Excellent navigation skills are necessary to ensure a safe passage and make strategic decisions regarding routes and stopovers.

The timeline depends on factors such as weather patterns, sailor’s experience, sailing speed, and vessel condition. The selected route optimizes wind and currents for efficient progress.

It is important to note that the timeline and route may change based on individual preferences, weather patterns, and unforeseen circumstances.

Undertaking a solo sailing expedition requires meticulous planning and preparation for a successful and safe journey. Sailors must adapt to challenges and changes in the timeline and route, making it a remarkable adventure.

Preparation and Training

When it comes to preparing for the incredible feat of sailing around the world solo, there are two crucial aspects to consider: physical and mental preparation, as well as navigation and survival skills. In this section, we’ll dive into the rigorous training that goes into preparing for such a journey, including the physical challenges that must be overcome and the mental fortitude required. We’ll also explore the intricate art of navigation and the essential survival skills that sailors must possess to conquer the vast, unpredictable seas.

Physical and Mental Preparation

Physical and mental preparation is essential for embarking on a solo sailing adventure around the world. When considering this thrilling endeavor, it is important to take into account the following key aspects:

• Physical fitness: Solo sailing necessitates a high level of endurance and strength. Therefore, sailors must engage in training regimens that focus on building stamina , cardiovascular fitness, and core strength .
• Psychological readiness: Spending prolonged periods alone at sea can present mental challenges. Thus, sailors must possess qualities such as resilience , self-discipline , and coping skills to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.
• Navigation skills: Effective navigation techniques are crucial for a successful solo sailing journey. Sailors must be knowledgeable in reading charts, utilizing GPS systems, and employing celestial navigation methods.
• Emergency preparedness: Solo sailors should possess a comprehensive understanding of first aid and rescue procedures. They must ensure they have the necessary safety equipment on board and be proficient in its correct usage.
• Communication strategies: Establishing means of communication with the outside world is of paramount importance for both safety and well-being. Sailors should invest in communication systems such as satellite phones or radios to stay connected.

When preparing for a solo sailing adventure, it is advisable to seek guidance from experienced sailors, partake in sailing courses, and engage in simulated exercises. Adopting mindfulness techniques can help cultivate a calm and focused mindset while at sea.

Navigation and Survival Skills

When embarking on a solo sailing journey around the world, having proper navigation and survival skills is absolutely essential for a safe and successful adventure. Solo sailors need to be highly skilled in the art of chart reading and interpreting nautical charts in order to effectively navigate the vast oceans. It is crucial for them to be able to accurately plot their course and make any necessary adjustments as they go along.

In addition to chart reading, compass navigation is an absolute must for maintaining the correct course and direction, particularly in situations where visibility is limited or when relying on electronic systems is not an option. Solo sailors rely on a technique known as dead reckoning , where they estimate their current position based on known variables such as course, speed, and time. It is of utmost importance that accurate record-keeping and calculations are consistently maintained.

When planning routes and avoiding hazardous conditions, analyzing weather patterns and forecasts becomes an essential part of the process. Solo sailors need to be able to interpret these forecasts in order to ensure their safety and make informed decisions regarding their journey.

Solo sailors should also undergo training in survival skills to be well-prepared for unforeseen emergencies. This includes knowing how to handle emergencies, utilizing life-saving equipment, and administering first aid. They must always be ready to face potential risks like storm damage or equipment failure, and proper training in survival skills is crucial in order to effectively navigate through challenging waters and ensure their safety throughout the entire journey.

Risks and Safety Measures

Embarking on a solo journey to sail around the world  is an audacious feat, but it comes with its fair share of risks and the need for strict safety measures. In this section, we will explore the challenges posed by unpredictable weather and sea conditions, as well as the emergency protocols undertaken by these courageous sailors. Brace yourself for an exhilarating discussion , backed by facts and firsthand experiences, that sheds light on the risks involved and the measures taken to ensure the safety of these young adventurers.

Weather and Sea Conditions

When embarking on a solo sailing journey around the world, sailors must navigate challenging weather and sea conditions. These weather and sea conditions can include storms , waves , currents , temperature variations , and poor visibility .

Storms , such as hurricanes and cyclones, can generate strong winds and high waves , testing the skills and resilience of the sailor in the face of these challenging weather and sea conditions. The size and intensity of waves can vary greatly depending on location and weather patterns , making sailing more difficult, especially when sailing solo. Strong ocean currents can also affect a solo sailor’s journey, requiring careful planning to optimize sailing efficiency amidst these weather and sea conditions.

Solo sailors may encounter diverse temperature conditions brought about by the weather and sea conditions, ranging from extreme cold to scorching heat . These variations can impact the sailor’s physical and mental well-being as they navigate the challenging weather and sea conditions. Additionally, poor visibility due to fog, rain, or other atmospheric conditions can increase the risk of collision with other vessels or objects, adding to the complexity of the weather and sea conditions that solo sailors face.

Despite these challenges, solo sailors rely on their training, experience, and advanced weather forecasting technology to navigate safely through the weather and sea conditions. Adhering to safety measures and practicing good seamanship is crucial for a successful voyage amidst these weather and sea conditions.

In 2020, 16-year-old Laura Dekker successfully completed her solo sail around the world, encountering rough weather and sea conditions in the Indian Ocean. She experienced powerful storms with winds exceeding 50 knots and waves as tall as three-story buildings, showcasing her ability to overcome the challenging weather and sea conditions. Laura’s remarkable feat inspires aspiring sailors, highlighting the importance of being prepared for varying weather and sea conditions on their own journeys.

Emergency Protocols

Proper emergency protocols are of utmost importance for the safety of solo sailors when sailing around the world. Here are some crucial protocols to consider:

• It is essential to establish reliable communication for emergencies using satellite phones , distress beacons , or radios .
• Creating a plan and conducting practice drills for man overboard situations is vital. This includes stopping the boat, throwing a flotation device , and coordinating a rescue.
• Having a well-stocked medical kit onboard with essential medications and supplies is crucial. It is also important to receive training in basic first aid techniques to handle minor injuries or illnesses while waiting for professional medical assistance.
• Implementing fire prevention measures and ensuring the readiness of firefighting equipment is crucial. Regularly checking electrical and fuel systems for maintenance is also recommended.
• Having a clear plan for abandoning the vessel is necessary. This involves packing life rafts with survival equipment, ensuring the accountability of all crew members, and deploying distress signals.

Implementing these protocols significantly improves the safety and well-being of solo sailors during their journey.

In addition to these protocols, it is important to regularly review and update emergency plans based on changing conditions or new learnings. Practicing emergency drills and staying up to date with the latest safety guidelines enhances preparedness for any unforeseen situations.

Legality and Regulations

When it comes to the epic feat of sailing around the world solo, there are important aspects to consider: the legality and regulations that govern it. Join me as we dive into the fascinating world of age restrictions, legal requirements, and regulations that shape this incredible adventure. Get ready to uncover the rules and regulations surrounding this remarkable achievement, and discover what it takes to embark on such a daring solo circumnavigation.

Age Restrictions and Legal Requirements

Age restrictions and legal requirements are critical factors to consider when embarking on a solo sailing journey around the world. Many nations impose a minimum age limit of 18 years for sailors. These regulations are put in place to ensure individuals possess the necessary maturity and experience to face the numerous challenges and risks associated with such an extraordinary undertaking.

Sailors must also adhere to legal requirements, which encompass acquiring the appropriate permits and licenses. This entails obtaining a recognized sailing license or certification from approved institutions and abiding by customs and immigration procedures of each country visited.

It is imperative for sailors to prioritize safety measures, including carrying essential safety equipment and possessing knowledge of navigation rules, weather forecasting, and first aid procedures. Age restrictions and legal requirements differ across various countries, thus it is crucial for sailors to thoroughly research and familiarize themselves with the specific regulations of each destination.

Notably, it is worth mentioning that Laura Dekker holds the record as the youngest person to accomplish a solo circumnavigation of the globe, achieving this remarkable feat at the age of 16 years and 123 days .

Regulations for Solo Circumnavigation

Specific regulations must be followed for solo circumnavigation to ensure safety and adhere to international laws.

• Minimum age: Solo sailors must be between 16 and 18 years old, depending on the country or organization.
• Boat size: The boat used for solo circumnavigation must be seaworthy and equipped with necessary safety equipment.
• Navigation skills: Solo sailors must demonstrate proficiency in navigation and sailing skills, including knowledge of meteorology, chart plotting, and emergency procedures.
• Communication: Adequate means of communication, such as satellite phones or radios, must be available onboard the boat for contact with authorities and requesting assistance.
• Itinerary approval: Solo sailors may need to submit their planned route and itinerary for approval to authorities or organizations overseeing solo circumnavigation .
• Environmental regulations: Solo circumnavigators must adhere to environmental regulations, including avoiding waste dumping and respecting protected marine areas.

Solo sailors should familiarize themselves with the regulations and requirements of the countries they will visit during their journey. Failure to comply may result in legal consequences or denial of entry into certain ports. Safety and adherence to regulations are crucial for solo circumnavigation .

Fact: Dutch sailor Laura Dekker became the youngest person to sail around the world solo at the age of 16. She successfully followed all regulations and requirements set forth by authorities.

Inspiration and Impact

Embarking on a journey around the world solo is no small feat, especially for a young adventurer. In this section, we will uncover the inspiration and impact behind this daring endeavor. Discover how these incredible feats of sailing prowess have left an indelible mark on young adventurers, sparking their own desires for exploration and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Get ready to be inspired by the stories and achievements that have shaped aspiring sailors around the globe. To know more about the factual details, kindly refer to the Reference Data provided.

Impact on Young Adventurers

Solo sailing around the world has a profound impact on young adventurers. It not only challenges their physical and mental abilities, but also helps them develop resilience and independence , while improving their problem-solving skills . This priceless experience teaches them important life lessons in perseverance and self-reliance .

The impact on young adventurers is clearly visible in their personal growth and confidence levels . Overcoming various challenges throughout the journey not only boosts their self-esteem , but also instills a deep sense of accomplishment . As a result, they become more determined and motivated to pursue their dreams, knowing that they have successfully completed a solo circumnavigation.

Solo sailing serves as an inspiration for other young individuals to embark on their own adventures. The achievements of these sailors act as a catalyst for aspiring adventurers, motivating them to follow their passions and confront challenges with courage . This impact reaches beyond individuals, extending to a wider community of young adventurers who dream of exploring the vast oceans of the world.

Inspiration for Aspiring Sailors

Solo sailing serves as a great inspiration for aspiring sailors. It is through record-setting expeditions, such as Jessica Watson’s remarkable solo circumnavigation at the age of 16, that we witness the determination, skill, and passion required for such a journey. These extraordinary achievements have the power to ignite a sense of adventure and a deep desire to push one’s limits on the vast open sea.

The stories of young adventurers embarking on solo circumnavigations act as a source of inspiration for individuals of all ages, motivating them to pursue their sailing dreams. The challenges faced during these daring voyages, including unpredictable weather, loneliness, and the constant need for decision-making, truly illustrate the bravery and resilience that one must possess to navigate the world’s oceans alone.

Aspiring sailors can gain valuable insights from the meticulous preparation and training undertaken by these young sailors. It is crucial to develop physical and mental readiness, as well as improve navigation and survival skills, in order to enhance proficiency on the water.

The impact of these remarkable achievements goes far beyond personal accomplishments. These young adventurers serve as role models, inspiring others to pursue their own sailing dreams and reminding us all that age should never be a limiting factor when it comes to our aspirations.

In the context of history, we can look to Robin Lee Graham , who completed his solo circumnavigation at the age of 21. His incredible journey, beautifully captured in the book “Dove,” inspired countless young sailors, serving as proof that the dream of sailing solo around the world is indeed attainable for those who dare to pursue it.

Some Facts About Who Is The Youngest Person To Sail Around The World Solo:

• ✅ The first person to sail solo around the world was Joshua Slocum in 1898. (Source: Our Team)
• ✅ Zac Sunderland became the first person under 18 to sail solo around the world in 2009, completing his 13-month trip at the age of 17. (Source: Our Team)
• ✅ Jesse Martin became the youngest person to sail around the world nonstop, unassisted, and solo in 1999. (Source: Our Team)
• ✅ Laura Dekker of the Netherlands became the youngest person to successfully sail solo around the world in 2012, after obtaining government approval. (Source: Our Team)
• ✅ Jessica Watson, an Australian, sailed around the world alone at the age of 16, but her voyage did not meet the criteria for true circumnavigation according to the World Sailing Speed Record Council. (Source: Our Team)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the youngest person to sail around the world solo.

The youngest person to sail around the world solo is Laura Dekker, a Dutch sailor. She completed her solo circumnavigation at the age of 16.

What challenges did Laura Dekker face during her solo sailing journey?

Laura Dekker faced various challenges during her solo sailing journey, including media scrutiny, court battles, boat confiscation, and the threat of being removed from her parents.

How did Laura Dekker prepare for her solo circumnavigation?

Laura Dekker grew up on boats and started honing her sailing skills at a young age. She made her first long-distance solo trip at 10 and gained experience with each sailing adventure. Dekker and her father worked on the boat in the Netherlands and got it ready for her circumnavigation.

What boat did Laura Dekker use for her solo circumnavigation?

Laura Dekker used a 12.4-meter two-masted ketch named Guppy for her solo circumnavigation.

How long did it take Laura Dekker to sail around the world solo?

Laura Dekker completed her solo circumnavigation in 518 days, arriving in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, at the age of 16.

What has Laura Dekker done since her solo circumnavigation?

After her solo circumnavigation, Laura Dekker continued her sailing journey, lived on her boat in New Zealand, obtained her Yachtmaster Ocean ticket, and started the Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation. She now offers sailing adventures to teenagers and continues to sail with her partner.

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Oceans at 13? Concern for teenagers chasing around-the-world records

Even as 17-year-old Mike Perham lands in Portsmouth tomorrow as the youngest solo sailor to circumnavigate the globe, 10,000 miles away in Queensland, Australia, another teenager is poised to try to wrest the record from him.

Jessica Watson, 16, is the next in a queue of super-teens eager to pit themselves against the elements. Her boat, Pink Lady, is being kitted out, and she goes next month. Abby Sunderland, 15, plans to follow in November, setting forth from California on the same challenge that her brother, Zac, 17, completed in July.

And, had a court not intervened, a Dutch schoolgirl, Laura Dekker, would have left next week at 13. Her dreams of chasing the record were stalled today by judges in Utrecht placing her under a two-month supervision order.

The court ruling highlights the controversy and concern surrounding the recent phenomenon of teenage long-distance sailors. Born on a boat in New Zealand and spending the first four years of her life at sea, no one doubts Dekker has "salt in her veins". But social workers fear that a desire to impress her father, Dick, an excellent sailor with whom she has lived since her parents divorced, could have influenced her.

This year she was picked up by social workers in Britain having sailed alone to Lowestoft, where she was sleeping on her boat. She was put into care for a night while her reluctant father, who thought she was old enough to sail back alone, was ordered to come and get her.

Now she must be psychologically assessed to see whether she is capable of coping before the court will agree to her two-year journey. While remaining with her father, she will be under the supervision of the Dutch council for child protection.

As the quest to set new records continues, debate is raging. Just how young is too young? And to what extent are vainglorious parents pressurising children into riskier ventures?

"Million-dollar questions," said Dee Caffari, 36, the first woman to sail solo non-stop around the world in both directions. The decision by the sport's governing body, the World Sailing Speed Record Council, to abandon its "youngest" category reflects a desire not to further encourage it, she believes.

"If everyone keeps trying to break it, where does it end: with some 10-year-old having a go?"

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, first to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world, said: "The problem is, I don't know legally how you can have a cut-off. But I would say that 13 is very marginal.

"I think parents are going to have to play a very big part in this. We all know that some parents try to relive their lives through their children. They think, 'Wow, wouldn't it be great if my son or daughter could do that. I will get all that glory.' Then it's: 'Right. You're doing it.' That's probably the biggest danger."

Watson, too, has the proverbial salt in her veins, having been home-schooled on a boat for five years. "I made my mind up when I was 12," she said from aboard Pink Lady. "It's not about any records. It's about fufilling my dreams. And if that brings a record with it, then it's a bonus". It's a statement open to question, given that her website's address is youngestround.com .

She is prepared, having sailed 10,000 nautical miles. She has "stitched up some chickens and stabbed a few oranges" in first aid training. The ocean, she says, doesn't care about age: "It respects experience." As for the run on youth records: "I personally think it is amazing that so many young people are showing the courage and belief to live dreams."

"If you see someone else do it, then you want to do it. And the more do it, the more want to do it," said Perham from aboard his yacht heading towards Portsmouth. He has not met Dekker, but "would be fascinated to". He will not say whether he thinks she should or should not be allowed to sail.

"Anyone, whatever age, has to ask three key things. Are they physically strong enough? Are they mentally strong enough to cope when the going gets tough? And are they technically good enough to fix generators and work as an electrician? The mental side of this trip is huge," he said.

Knox-Johnston, whose Clipper Ventures allows people to experience round-the-world sailing, said: "You just can't do this without experience, and maturity to cope with loneliness. If something goes wrong with the boat, and you've got a gale coming, and perhaps you're frightened to deal with it, it's having the strength to say 'I've got to do this. I can't sit down below and cry.'"

Caffari, who is currently involved with the Toe in the Water sailing charity for injured service personnel, said her own experiences had taught her just how mentally tough it was. "It's quite surprising, the effect it has on you. And at a young age, you are not emotionally strong."

At 14, Perham, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, became the youngest to sail the Atlantic single-handedly. Now he has set the new record, for how long can he keep it? "Well, it's going to take Jessica about eight months to get round. So I'll hold it for quite a while.

"But it's not holding it that counts," he added. "It's getting it."

Youngest circumnavigation records

Jesse Martin , an 18-year-old Australian sailor who in 1999 became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo, non-stop and unassisted – a record that still stands. He remains one of the biggest inspirations to today's teen sailors.

Zac Sunderland , from California. Aged 17 years and 198 days, he became the youngest person to sail solo around the globe, and the first aged under 18, when he returned on 16 July 2009. The record stood for six weeks.

Mike Perham , from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. Aged 17 years and 164 days, Perham claimed Sunderland's record on Thursday when he crossed the finishing line after a journey of nine months.

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Zac Sunderland, 17, Becomes Youngest to Solo Sail Around the World

Text by Annie Hay

After surviving 397 days at sea, 17-year-old Zac Sunderland has become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe sailing solo. Sunderland, from Thousand Oaks, California, began his 28,000-nautical-mile journey in Marina Del Ray aboard a 1972, 36-foot Islander Sailboat. Working 18-hour days to fund the $6,000 purchase and retrofitting of his boat, he announced that his goal was to sail around the world—alone.

The trip spanned three oceans, five seas, and included short stopovers in 12 ports around the globe. As is expected on the high seas, his trip was not without near failures and life-threatening crises—including a threat from pirates, a storm that brought 30-foot waves, and an electrical fire.

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Matador Original Series

Jessica Watson, 16, Youngest Person to Sail Around the World Solo

All photos courtesy of Jessica Watson

In 1999 , fellow Australian Jesse Martin successfully completed a solo sailing trip around the planet. In doing so he became the youngest ever to circumnavigate the globe unassisted. This September, 16-year-old Jessica Watson sets off with a goal that might take that distinction away from him.

Dreaming about this since age 11

If you read comments left by readers of articles written about Jessica you’d think this was a controversial event. Her parents are getting attacked; people are questioning their decision to let her attempt this. Julie Watson, Jessica’s mum, has this response:

“A lot of people say `how ridiculous, she is 15′. But I would say if they had a daughter like mine they would let her go. She instills confidence in you.”

There’s no question she’s not your average teenager. She’s been sailing and racing dinghies since she was eight and has been dreaming about the solo trip since age 11. Fueling her fire are other inspiring sailors like Kay Cottee — the first woman solo-sailor around the world — and Jesse Martin.

To prepare herself mentally for the epic voyage, she’s reading books by people who’ve done this and how they coped. In addition, she’s talking to a sports psychologist and will also have access to the Internet and a webcam. She admits these technological advances might make it a bit easier for herself compared to previous sailors.

As far as physical preparations go, she says she’s “learning a lot about the word compromise ; everything’s a compromise, weight and performance versus comfort, power and communication.”

Ending up where she started

Making sure to follow the rules of a true circumnavigation, Jessica’s route has her starting in Brisbane, then sailing northeast across the equator to Washington Island in the North Pacific, around Cape Horn below South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope, across the Indian Ocean and finally up the east coast of Australia back to Brisbane. This plan covers around 23,000 nautical miles and will take approximately 230 days.

Her choice of transport is the S&S 34, a 34-foot yacht made famous by Jon Sanders, David Dicks and Jesse Martin after their history-making solo circumnavigations.

A few words with Jessica

Recently, Jessica was kind enough to take a few minutes out of her ridiculously busy schedule to chat with me over the phone and answer a few questions for our Matador readers:

Q. Many young travelers have a hard time convincing mom and dad to let them go on their first big trip, especially by themselves. When you decided that you wanted to try to break the record, how did your parents react when you first told them?

Yeah, mum and I had a laugh at this question. It definitely took some time. My mum came on board when she saw how determined I was and my dad only came on board quite recently, when he saw how much support we were receiving, and how determined we all were.

Q. Do you have any tips on the young travelers out there trying to get their parents’ blessings?

That they do anything possible to show them how determined, and how perfect and organized you’re going to make it.

Q. Can you describe the feeling you get when you’re out in the water?

It’s definitely something special. Yesterday I skippered the boat for the first time by myself. It was only a couple hours and was only motoring, but it is something very special…when you’re by yourself everything is more exciting. You see it in a different way, I suppose. It’s really cool.

Q. There must be a lot of things that are out of your control when you’re at sea. How do you handle that?

I never used to be very confident, I suppose, and when everything’s out of your control and you don’t know what you’re doing, when you’re not confident, then it’s scary. So, you do absolutely everything that you can and then you rely on the boat looking after you, and if you have confidence in the boat, then it isn’t some terrifying kind of feeling.

It’s not possible to be overconfident when you’re trying to do something like this, but you know, anything can come at you at any time, so you gotta be confident and constantly ready for anything. Q. I understand you’re not allowed to take on any supplies or food during your attempt. How do you do that for your estimated 230 days out there?

Yeah, it’s really careful planning because obviously it’s really important not to forget anything and you know, you get help, and you get the right advice, and you put it all together. So a lot of what I’ll be eating is freeze dried and a bit of tin and a bit of everything. So it’s just really careful planning and coordination.

Q. How do you prepare for the isolation and the unexpected?

You do what you can. You talk to the right people and you get all the advice and you can do your practice runs and all that. But when it comes down to it, there’s no way you can prepare yourself in your head for eight months alone. There’s no test for that.

How you’re gonna handle yourself after two weeks just doesn’t compare to eight months, so the only way to find out is to get out there and do it.

Q. You’re also a member and active supporter of OceansWatch. Can you talk about the importance of this, especially in the difficult times many are experiencing these days?

It’s important, and especially for sailors and yachtees, that we all do our part…and I think that that’s what they’re [OceansWatch] all about. It’s just everyone doing a little bit of what they can and chipping in. That’s how it happens.

Keeping up with the progress

Jessica is managing to find some spare moments to keep a blog up to date, talking about the preparations and what she’s going through as the departure date grows nearer. Visit her at youngestround.blogspot.com and wish her the best. Sources: Youngest Round Mooloolaba’s Jessica dreaming of the open sea Sailing solo around the world non-stop at 15

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If you’re keen on setting sail yourself, check out Buy a Boat and Learn to Sail: 5 Lessons for the Perfect Lifestyle .

Jessica may not need a crew on this trip, but others do. Read up on How to Travel the World By Crewing On Yachts .

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Cole Brauer becomes first American woman to sail solo, nonstop around world

A joyful Cole Brauer returned in her boat Thursday to A Coruña, 130 days after sailing away from the Spanish port city.

Completing the epic voyage made the 29-year-old the first American woman to sail around the world nonstop, with no one else aboard. Brauer’s solo feat, which unfolded over approximately 30,000 miles, was also good for a second-place finish in rigorous Global Solo Challenge.

“Amazing finish!!!! So stoked!” Brauer wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to everyone that came together and made this process possible.”

Brauer provided regular updates on her voyage, which began Oct. 29, as her Instagram following burgeoned from less than 100,000 to almost half a million. Along the way, the East Hampton, N.Y., native shared battles with high winds, monstrous waves and maintenance issues on her Class 40 monohull, named “First Light.”

The 5-2, 100-pound sailor, who learned to sail at the University of Hawaii, posted clips of herself getting bruised ribs when suddenly flung across the interior of her boat and self-administering fluids intravenously to ward off dehydration. Her journey took her around the three great capes — Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, Australia’s Cape Leeuwin and South America’s treacherous Cape Horn — and through Point Nemo, an area in the Pacific Ocean so far from any land that the nearest humans are often orbiting overhead in the International Space Station.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by COLE BRAUER OCEAN RACING (@colebraueroceanracing)

According to race organizer Marco Nannini, over half of the 16 entrants in this installment of the event have had to retire before completing it. One passed a kidney stone at sea, per Nannini, before making landfall in New Zealand for medical assistance, and another was semi-submerged and out of contact for “24 very long hours prior to rescue” after a collision in the remote Pacific.

Brauer joins a group of fewer than 200 people known to have sailed solo around the world without stopping. The first, according to a list maintained by the International Association of Cape Horners , was England’s Robin Knox-Johnston in 1969.

The first woman to accomplish the feat, per Nannini, was Australia’s Kay Cottee in 1988. Brauer is the 18th.

“It was a long and emotional day,” Nannini wrote Thursday, “which started well before sunrise after a sleepless night monitoring Cole’s progress, meeting her at sea, watching her sail at First Light into A Coruna and celebrating her outstanding achievement. Well done Cole!”

Brauer was the youngest competitor in the Global Solo Challenge field — and the only woman. Of making her mark in a “fully male-dominated world,” as she put it in a recent interview with NBC , Brauer said, “I think that it takes a lot of strength to actually push and to strive into this industry, and I really want women to understand that it’s possible.”

“It would be amazing if there was just one other girl that saw me and said, ‘Oh, I can do that, too,’” she said .

She had lived a life of adventure. Then came the ultimate sailing race.

Last year, Brauer won the opening leg of the One-Two Yacht Race , which involved sailing solo from Rhode Island to Bermuda. All competitors picked up a second sailor for the return trip, and Brauer finished first again with teammate Catherine Chimney as they became the first all-female duo to win the race overall.

Each leg of that competition took approximately three days, barely a toe in the water compared to the duration of Brauer’s just-completed circumnavigation, but the first three days of the Global Solo Challenge were some of the hardest for her. She endured a “ pretty rough, rough, rough start ” making her way around the Spanish coast after departing A Coruña, an experience she described on Instagram as a “trial by fire.”

The second day of the event began with Brauer vomiting — “I’ve never had seasickness before in my life,” she told her followers, adding that she may have suffered from food poisoning — and shortly thereafter she gave herself the IV on the advice of her medical team.

Brauer shared plenty of posts in her usually upbeat demeanor, but a Dec. 8 video found her “ angry that things keep going wrong” with her boat. “Right now, I have been feeling just broken,” Brauer said with emotion. But she was smiling at the camera the next day while engaging in some “ self care ” as some technical issues got ironed out.

By Christmas Eve , Brauer was past Cape Leeuwin, close to the halfway point of the journey as she began the long, challenging stretch across the Pacific. After dodging some strong weather systems and enduring others, she passed Cape Horn and was finally back in the Atlantic in late January. Of course, there were still some “ horrendous conditions ” to deal with, but Brauer also shared excitement about the media coverage her exploits were attracting.

“So excited to move sailing into the mainstream!” Brauer wrote on Instagram late last month. “For far too long sailing and racing has been in the shadows maybe partially due to its attempts to keep its ‘traditions’ but those ‘traditions’ have also pushed really amazing sailors out of the industry due to burn out rates and unnecessary exclusivity. This hasn’t been easy one bit but it makes it all worth it to see that we are taking this industry from the dark and bringing it into the light.”

After making her long-awaited return to dry land, she told NBC , “It was really emotional, because I see my parents, I see my friends, my family — I see everyone — and this dream has become a reality.”

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Mack Rutherford becomes youngest pilot to fly solo around the world

Aged 17 years and 64 days, expert aviator Mack Rutherford (UK) is officially the overall  youngest    person to circumnavigate the world by aircraft solo .

Mack – nicknamed Mack Solo – landed in Sofia, Bulgaria, on a warm summer afternoon. 

The teen aviator had departed from the same city on 23 March 2022, six months prior, to pursue his dream of achieving the world record. 

Just like his sister Zara Rutherford, who broke two aviation records herself earlier this year, Mack faced the challenge completely alone. 

52 countries and five continents later, Mack returned to Sofia on the 24th of August 2022, marking the end of his trip around Earth.

Born in June 2005 from Belgian and British parents, when Mack set out on his record-breaking flight, he was only 16. 

He celebrated his 17th birthday on the plane that would deliver him four Guinness World Record titles:

• Youngest person to circumnavigate the world by aircraft solo
• Youngest person to circumnavigate the world by aircraft solo (male)
• Youngest person to circumnavigate the world by microlight solo (male)
• Youngest person to circumnavigate the world by microlight solo

“I believe young people can make a difference." - Mack Rutherford

Mack achieved the record youngest person to circumnavigate the world by microlight solo , previously held by his sister Zara. His achievements have reconfirmed the Rutherfords as a family of talented, adventure-seeking pilots. 

He completed the circumnavigation aboard a small, single-engine aircraft. 

He could only travel by daylight, and the limited size of his aircraft forced him to occasionally land whenever the weather conditions got too critical. 

The 17-year-old travelled for a total of six months, adjusting to last-minute route changes and several challenges, and also got to meet several people across the globe whenever he landed. 

He never stopped smiling, joking and updating his followers every step of the ambitious journey.  

As he expected, Mack's journey turned out to be far from plain sailing. 

Just like other pilots before him, Mack was called to prove that he can rise to the occasion, facing poor weather and unexpected landings.

Troubles started after reaching Casco Cove, an island of the Aleutian archipelago and the most challenging segment of his flight. 

This section of the journey was made even more complicated by adverse weather conditions.

Mack battled strong winds and rain after approximately 10 hours of flying non-stop over open water.

Even though he expected the forecasted tailwinds, sudden strong headwinds slowed down his journey and forced the young pilot to land in Attu. 

"Mackinson Crusoe was now on an uninhabited island, surrounded only by boarded-up buildings, battle relics, and memorials telling of the immense amount of lost souls to the place... Although the scenery was breathtaking," he jokingly reported on his Instagram. 

    View this post on Instagram   A post shared by MackSolo (@macksolo2022)

With his incredible quest, Mack snatched the world record from fellow British pilot Travis Ludlow.

In October 2021, Travis  broke the record  after landing in the Netherlands.

The previous record holder was 18 years 150 days old when he completed his 24,900-mile trip around Earth, a year older than Mack.

During his circumnavigation, Travis surpassed the minimum distance required to break the world record (24,540 miles) when he set a personal milestone and flew to Gibraltar, on 9 July.

If Mack’s surname may sound familiar, it’s because he’s not the only one from the family with his head – and dreams – in the sky. 

Mack comes from a family of aviators and pilots. Thanks to them, the passion for aviation runs in his blood. 

"I have known for certain I wanted to fly since I was eleven," Mack says, reporting that his entire family has always encouraged him to follow and pursue his dream, helping him with his flying. 

“My dad Sam is a professional ferry pilot, my mum Beatrice is a recreational private pilot.”

His family, and in particular his sister Zara, is Mack’s inspiration for attempting a world record.

Mack is the younger brother of fellow pilot and record holder Zara Rutherford .

Earlier this year, Zara officially became the youngest person to circumnavigate the world by aircraft solo (female) , completing her circumnavigation at 19 years and 199 days.

Zara is also the  youngest person to circumnavigate the world by microlight solo (female).  

"But no matter what background you have, I believe it is never too early to work towards your dreams and you shouldn’t limit yourself by others’ expectations."

The Rutherford children, with four certificates now in the family, have brought the concept of a healthy siblings rivalry to new heights.

We can’t wait to see what records await Mack in his future. For now, he is completing an A-level in History, with a particular passion for World War II. Perhaps flying a Spitfire is next on the young aviator's list!

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First American Woman To Solo Race Around the World In a Sailboat Is Under 30

U nsurprisingly, sailing around the world isn’t easy. Doing it alone in a racing capacity? Well, that’s another matter entirely. Cole Brauer did just that, and in doing so, became the first American woman to solo race around the world in a boat driven by wind. 

Cole Brauer, 29, became the first American woman to solo sail around the world

University of Hawaii graduate Cole Brauer took off and returned to the coast of Spain. By the journey’s end, her boat, “First Light,” had covered 30,000 miles and crossed three oceans. However, in the end, Brauer was immortalized as the first American woman to solo race around the world in a sailboat. 

Consequently, Cole Brauer also holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation by a solo woman sailor. That record will stand until another brave soul attempts a continuous race trip around the globe in a racing context. It should be said, that Brauer isn’t the first woman to sail around the world. That title belongs to Polish adventure sailor Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz, per Reuters . 

She is, however, the fastest American woman to take on the task. What’s more, at 29, Brauer was the youngest skipper in her race. She’s in top-tier company, as well. Brauer follows in the footsteps of greats like Dame Ellen MacArthur. Dame MacArthur crushed previous records with a 2005 circumnavigation that covered over 27,000 miles in under 72 days.

Brauer’s voyage took 130 days, during which she lived aboard “First Light” and cataloged her life. She started from the Spanish coast and made landfall again A Coruna, Spain. Her route took her south along the African coast, around the southernmost tip of South Africa, and then east toward Australia. From there, endless seas took her past Cape Horn in South America before she crossed the Atlantic Ocean on her way back to Spain.

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