smallest sailboat to circumnavigate the globe

Szymon Kuczynski World Record for the Smallest Yacht around the Globe Solo and Non-Stop

Szymon Kuczynski secured a new world record for the smallest yacht to circumnavigate the globe singlehanded and unaided, when he returned to Mayflower Marina in Plymouth on Thursday 17th May.

Szymon, who set sail last year from Plymouth on August 19, completed the circumnavigation in 270 days, 10 hours and 29 minute. The World Sailing Speed Record Council recognizes a similar feat by Alessandro di Benedetto (FRA/ITA) in 2009-10 who sailed a 6.5m (21ft 3.9in) Mini yacht around the world in 268 days, 19 hours, 36 minutes, 12 seconds.

The solo sailor took a classic route round the three famous capes of Africa, Australia and South America . Szymon had been living in a space of just four square metres for over 9 months and accomplished this trip without ever making any stops to ports.

In 2013, he sailed back and forward across the Atlantic Ocean on his self-built, 5m long yacht, “Lilla My” as part of a ‘Call to the Ocean’ race.

And in 2014, Szymon finished his round the world trip- “Maxus Solo Around”- taking the Pasat Route, making stops at ports along the way.

About the boat

The sailboat was manufactured in the Northman shipyard in Poland. The Maxus 22, which is normally used for in-land sailing and close-shore waters, has been adjusted for such and ocean challenge, by changing most of it’s construction.

The hull and rigging have been strengthened and the interior of the yacht has been limited to the essential appliances. The cabin can be hermetically closed, and the hull can still remain floating on the water, even in case of an accident and a complete water flooding inside.

Szymon Kuczynski Journey Statistics

Time: 270 days, 10 hours, 29 minutes. Miles travelled: 29 044. Average speed: 4,5 kt. Maximum speed: 14,9 kt. Books read: 143.

Eight Reasons Why Sailing is the Best Sport in the World

1936. voyage around cape horn by schooner wanderbird, uncharted waters: krystyna chojnowska-liskiewicz’s solo voyage around the world, 7 bluewater cruising sailboats we love, live your passion, subscribe to our mailing list, one comment.

How could you leave out the most important part of the news. Here it is: 6,36 m.

Home » Blog » Buy a boat » 5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ).

Hull Type: Long fin keel
Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
Designer:Per Brohall
Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
Year First Built:1965
Year Last Built:1979
Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD)

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

Hull Type: Full Keel
Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
Displacement/Length Ratio:49
Designer: Carl Alberg
Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
Year First Built:1974
Year Last Built:1988
Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
Designer:Michael Dufour
Builder:Dufour (France)
Year First Built:1975
Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
Rig Type: Cutter rig
Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
Designer: Robert B Harris
Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
Year First Built:1986
Last Year Built: 2007
Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
Designer: Herb David
Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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Around the World Solo in a 21-Footer

Over more than 9 months, and 29,000 miles at sea, Polish sailor Szymon Kuczynski sailed alone and unaided around the world.

A man smiles from the helm of his sailboat. The sailboat and sails are covered in various logos.

As our editors send you this story, about an extraordinary man who has just sailed around the world solo in a small boat, another group of the world's top sailors has just finished a similar circumnavigation in the grand prix Volvo Ocean Race. It was a dramatic photo finish upset for the Volvo, the closest win in 45 years, and a stunning display of navigational and weather-routing virtuosity. Stay tuned. We're working on a story of the highlights for you that will be in our next edition. This month, though, we give you a bit of perspective on such feats, and introduce you to an around-the-world dreamer who quietly accomplished a quest just as epic.

The next time you think your boat's a little too small, remember the story of Szymon Kuczynski, 37, who just spent more that 270 days sailing 29,000 nautical miles around the world in a boat less than 21 feet. That's a new world record for the smallest yacht to circumnavigate the globe non-stop with no engine. For perspective, less than 300 people are known to have sailed single-handed around the world — only 80 have done so without stopovers or assistance.

The sailboat, a Maxus 22, was manufactured in the Northman shipyard in Poland. The boat, which is designed for in-land and close-shore sailing, was extensively modified and strengthened for the ocean challenge. The modification included tightly sealing his cabin, which he said challenged his morale with high temperatures and poor air circulation. He lamented to a friend that his precious supply of chocolates had melted and had to be cast overboard. The normally mobile and energetic Polish national made the best of his months alone in tight quarters by reportedly reading his way through 143 books.

Kuczynski struggled to wring out boat speed, changing sails seven or eight times per day , which was complicated by the additional shrouds required to support the mast, and the lower than normal boom position, both modifications made to upgrade the rig prior to the start of the voyage.

The boat averaged 4.5 knots for the voyage, with a top speed of 14.9 knots. Kuczynski, a seasoned sailor, instructor and lecturer, largely self-funded his latest voyage with the help of several logistical sponsors. He followed in the footsteps of famous seafarers who set sail from Plymouth to circumnavigate the globe, including Sir Francis Chichester and Sir Francis Drake.

"I am honored to be one of them," he wrote in the last miles of his journey. "It was a very special moment to see Plymouth on the horizon as I completed by world record attempt, it felt like coming home. It has been an amazing experience."

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10 Best Sailboats For Circumnavigation

Best Sailboats For Circumnavigation | Life of Sailing

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Circumnavigation means to successfully navigate around any sort of landmasses such as an island or continent. Whilst in yesteryear we would have relied on compasses, maps, stars and uncomfortable conditions, now sailboats are fitted with a vast array of equipment to help you circumnavigate anywhere you choose in a comfortable and timely manner.

It would seem reasonable to suggest that a small and lightweight boat wouldn't have the capability to circumnavigate effectively, but this is no longer the case. Due to the developments in the understanding of technology and materials over the last 20 years or so, mass produced boats are more than capable of surviving any conditions providing the crew are prepared properly. With the improvements in engineering especially, long gone are the days where slow, bulky, and claustrophobic cruisers were your only option. You can travel in style!

Ultimately, this article is going to answer the question: what are the best sailboats for circumnavigation? There are a few major things that you need to consider. Principle amongst them are the facilities on board the sailboat, the ease of use, how the deck and cabins are organized, the space available and finally the performance of the vessel overall. Take your time and think carefully about it.

Table of contents

10 Best Sailboats for Circumnavigation

1. jeanneau sun odyssey 54ds.

Starting off our list with one of the strongest contenders, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54DS certainly ticks the luxury box. What's impressive is just how visually striking and spacious the 54DS is. It has big, swooping curves that give this sailboat a really distinctive shape. When this line of boat made its debut in 2003, the superstructure was considered to be one of the very best in the world and it still ranks highly today. Not only this, but the interior is designed to be luxurious and you have a surprising amount of space available in the cabin.

There's more to this boat than the looks though. The build quality on the whole is absolutely fantastic and it's quite powerful too. Many previous owners have attributed the high standard build quality, powerful performance and the excellent superstructure to the predictable and reliable performance. This is ideal for circumnavigation as you want a boat that is going to perform predictably and not throw you any major surprises!

A few other notable features on the 54DS are deep-draft keel and a standard in-mast furling mainsail. It also comes with an optional full battened main. All of these features are considered to be standard equipment for long distance cruisers.

All the high-quality features come at an expensive price. The price is certainly above average for a sailboat like this and you could make do with something a little less advanced but it's important to remember that the price is balanced out by the quality of the interior and stunning shape. Certainly some food for thought.

2. Amel Super Maramu

A highly regarded design by the Frenchman Henri Amel, this sailboat was his idea of what a high-performance circumnavigating sailboat should look like. The main point of the design was to encourage as much performance out of the boat as possible in deeper waters. This means less luxury, and more functionality. Oh, and not to mention that is undeniably French, so bear that in mind.

The boat itself looks like a traditional circumnavigating sailor, but it's got a lot of modern features to offer. The ship itself is designed to be operated by a small crew of two people. Everything is about efficiency. For example, the ketch rig is designed to be simple yet highly effective. Even the sails are electrically controlled! This means that the boat is really easy to use and manageable. It's recommended that for sailors who have a couple of years' experience because a few components can be a little bit complicated to do.

One thing that you might want to consider is that the Super Maramu isn't designed to be customised. Coming in at 53 feet long, it simply wouldn't be worth the effort to make any exterior modifications. It's a similar story for the interior as well. All the interior is functional so if you are looking for a more luxurious circumnavigator, then this wouldn't be a good option.

3. Hallberg-Rassy 42 and 42F

The Hallberg-Rassy range is known for their toughness and almost mythical build quality. The design is ruthlessly efficient, seen as there is absolutely no wasted space at all. This means that everything is focused on functionality, but this comes at the expense of it being a little bit less comfortable. The relatively simple exterior design is fitting in terms of the overall theme of the boat, simplicity and efficiency.

The layout below decks is also designed to be as efficient and user friendly as possible. This means that the boat is easy to use as well as the interior having a surprisingly fantastic finish to it. The design adds a lot of value to this boat because the ease of use and quality mean it's a fantastic place to be. Of course, this is depending on the amount of time you're going to spend circumnavigating but for a long trip, this is wonderful.

A word on the performance. It is very good too. It wouldn't be considered one of the best performing boats on this list but it's certainly more than good enough to get you where you need to go.

4. Hylas 54

The German Frers design can be seen again in the Hylas 54 but it's no surprise considering how good the design actually is. The Hylas 54 is designed to be a good balance between performance and efficiency.

The hull is built to an extremely high standard and the boat can also be driven very easily. In fact, its so easy to sail that achieving over 200-miles per day isn't too much of a struggle. On the deck, the design is compact and efficient which is perfect if you're an experienced sailor.

Another strong feature of the Hylas 54 is that there's a great amount of space and degree of flexibility below decks. You are free to choose how you want the layout to look as well as the quality of the finish. It even has a raised saloon version of which further adds to the flexibility and space available.

Owners are generally positive about this modal as well as the newer model, the Hylas 56. One of the biggest advantages is that it's really easy to handle. This would make a great, all round option for circumnavigating where you have the freedom to make it feel like home!

5. Beneteau 57

This is possibly one of the best, high-end options on the market currently! The Beneteau 57 is designed to be as stylish and reliable as possible. It would be fair to categorise it as a luxury cruiser that's for sure!

The hull is designed to be as fast and as sleek as possible. Paired with the stunning hull, the cockpit is placed as central as possible to maximise the amount of space available on the deck as well as keeping everything as neat and organised below decks.

The facilities below decks don't suffer either. All the systems have a fantastic finish to them and on the whole are very impressive. There is a fairly reasonable amount of space considering that the length of the boat is over 50 feet long.

It's fair to say that if you want to enjoy your tip but do it in luxury, then the Beneteau 57 is an absolutely fantastic option. The biggest benefit is that the price is extremely competitive considering the build-quality and luxurious feel you pay for.

6. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49

A rather surprising selection on the list! The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey isn't actually designed for circumnavigation by the charter market. However, due to its size and adaptability, it works extremely well as a circumnavigator.

Featuring a large cockpit, easy to maintain sailplan and a wonderful all-round performance, this really is a boat that can do pretty much anything you ask of it. A unique feature that this boat has is that it has a dedicated sail lock in the bow of the ship which is ideal for adjusting the height of the sail.

Below decks, you'll find a boat that has a variety of options for you. The cabin is designed to be twin aft but, if you remove the bulkhead, you can change the space into a massive single cabin. Below decks also feature a large navigation station which is a cool feature. The finish of the interior is also completed to a high standard which means that it's a comfortable and relaxing place to be!

7. Lagoon 440

This is a sailboat that has a lot of accolades. More lagoons have crossed the Atlantic. This is due to the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. In regards to the 440 modal in particular, they have taken part in the Atlantic Rally more often than any other lagoon. So, what does all this mean? Well, the Lagoon 440 is designed to be a quality cruiser that's incredibly reliable and safe.

On the deck, there is an awful lot of room. You have a saloon, a big cockpit, a wide trampoline forward and the flybridge. This means that there's plenty of space to socialise with your other crew members or in the harbour. It also means that you have enough space for some privacy too which is fantastic depending on how much time you're going to spend on the boat.

Below decks, it's very much the same story. The interior is polished and refined as well as having an enormous amount of space. This is absolutely ideal for having a large crew and enjoying your journey!

One final thing to highlight is the performance of the boat itself. It certainly isn't the fastest, but the boat will certainly get you anywhere in a good amount of time.

8. Beneteau Oceanis 473

The Beneteau Oceanis 473 is an extremely popular sailboat for circumnavigation. The design was actually meant for the charter market but because of the vast size, comfortable features and the fact its relatively affordable, it became a target for cruisers looking for a bargain.

There hasn't been a lot of modifications for circumnavigation, but the boat is good at handling heavy weather and performs in a stable and predictable manner. This means that it's incredibly easy to control and perfect for a long-distance cruise.

The interior is a little bit funky too! There are a few different cabin styles but the most popular one is the three-cabin version. The rooms are big enough, but they aren't ideal to use on the sea because some of the room is wasted. However, it is excellent for harbour parties.

9. Bavaria 42

The Bavaria 42 is the most popular mass-produced boat to cross oceans. The sailboat is designed to be a no-nonsense, affordable, and adaptable cruiser. It's also well engineered for the price.

On the deck, a long waterline and fairly good sail area provide a good amount of performance. It is very heavy though when the cruising essentials are stored on board. It's important to bear this in mind. The cockpit is also positioned to be as central as possible to open up more space.

Below decks, the interior is straightforward and functional. There are two to three sleeping cabins depending on what model you choose. The sleeping cabins are generally considered to be functional at best.

It's the standard, go to a cruiser for circumnavigation. This should be the sailboat that you compare everything to!

10. Oyster 56

I've saved possibly the best option for last. The Oyster 56 is highly regarded and considered to be a dream boat for most. The biggest advantage of the Oyster 56 is the fact that it's so flexible and simple to use but the standard of the instruments and interior is absolutely stunning.

There isn't too much else to say because everything is built to an unbelievably high standard. The deck is designed to be small enough to be crewed by two people, but it's sufficiently big enough to cross vast distances quickly and in immense comfort. The systems can be crewed by up to six people, with the ideal number being from two-four.

It's the exact situation below decks as well. A lavish interior is designed to relax you in comfort. There's a lot of space so it feels more like home rather than a boat. Everything you could want is available. The 56 is absolutely fantastic for long distance cruising.

A final thing to mention is that the Oyster 56 wins pretty much anything it competes in. You certainly are buying a quality boat!

Ultimately, the choice of the best sailboat for navigation depends on what experience you are looking for. It's fair to say that each sailboat has their own positives and negatives. You might want to relax in comfort and luxury, or you might want to have a more authentic, manual experience. The important things to consider are the space available below decks, the size of the boat and how easy it is to use and whether the boat meets your needs.

However, if I was to make a recommendation, I would suggest the Beneteau 57. Even though it is one of the most expensive sailboats on the list, it offers a wide variety of applications, excellent build quality and luxury interior makes this an amazing boat to travel in. If you want to travel in style, then this certainly is the boat for you! This is an excellent boat for larger crews, especially six and up.

If the Beneteau 57 isn't your cup of tea, then another excellent recommendation would be the Bavaria 42. This is an excellent option due to the outstanding build quality, quality engineering and functionality. It's perfect for small crew that like to have a functional and minimalist experience but really connect with the sea and the natural surroundings. Just bear in mind that it is a lot smaller than the majority of the sailboats on the list so don't expect to have the same luxurious experience you might have with some others.

Hopefully, you've found the perfect sailboat for you or if not, you've got some inspiration! The main thing is that the boat should add to the enjoyment and experience of the journey, not detract from it. No matter what boat you choose, make sure you enjoy it!

Happy sailing!

smallest sailboat to circumnavigate the globe

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Polish skipper Szymon Kuczynski sets world record by circumnavigating the globe in the world’s smallest yacht

Stef Bottinelli

Szymon Kuczynski secured a new world record for the smallest yacht to circumnavigate the globe singlehanded and unaided, when he returned to Mayflower Marina in Plymouth, today (Thursday 17th May)

Szymon Kuczynski originally set sail from Britain’s Ocean City of Plymouth on August 19th 2017.

The Polish native, 37, spent over 270 days, 10 hours and 29 minutes, alone at sea on board his yacht ‘Atlantic Puffin’ whilst undertaking his adventurous sailing expedition of nearly 29,000 nautical miles.

The solo sailor took a classic sea route round the three famous capes of Africa, Australia and South America, with no outer medical or technical support. Szymon had been living in a space of just four square metres for over 9 months and accomplished this trip without ever making any stops to ports.

Szymon Kuczynski, who self-funded the single-handed sea journey, completed his bold round the world trip by passing his original start point at Plymouth Breakwater. The Atlantic Puffin then docked at Mayflower Marina where Szymon was welcomed by family, friends and supporters, many of whom travelled especially from Poland, including a TV crew from TVN channel. Also in attendance to honour Szymon’s achievement was Counsellor Janusz Wolosz of the Polish Embassy in London and Sarah Gibson, Chef Executive at Plymouth Waterfront Partnership.

Continues below…

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Amanda Lumley, executive director of Destination Plymouth, said: “We’d like to welcome Szymon Kuczynski and his yacht ‘Atlantic Puffin’ to Britain’s Ocean City and offer our congratulations on this outstanding world record. We are delighted Szymon chose the historic harbour of Plymouth to begin and end his epic voyage. Plymouth is recognised across the UK and world for its stunning and iconic waterfront and high quality, accessible harbours, which host thousands of visitors’ boats – large and small – every year. Szymon has followed in the footsteps of many famous seafarers who have set sail from Plymouth to circumnavigate the globe, including Sir Francis Chichester and Sir Francis Drake, and we hope he will enjoy a warm welcome here”.

Published on September 30th, 2023 | by Editor

Around the world in a 5-metre boat

Published on September 30th, 2023 by Editor -->

Polish adventure-seeker Arek Pawelek will attempt to singlehandedly circumnavigate the globe, non-stop and unassisted in his 5-metre boat Elblag. Believed to be the smallest boat to attempt the feat, he departed September 28 from Plymouth, England. Pawelek’s expects the route around the capes of Africa, Australia, and South America will require 300 days to complete.

Pawelek’s adventurous nature first attracted attention in 1998 when he participated in sailing across the Atlantic from Cadiz to Barbados on a 4.4-metre-long inflatable boat. He has been a treasure hunter and will produce a documentary about this voyage.

“People have asked why I want to sail such a small boat,” he said. “I was searching for a new adventure and considered sailing the world on my 2.7 metre long dinghy. My wife, unsurprisingly, was concerned about this and suggested I sail the world in Elblag instead.

“I like sailing on small boats. I feel more confident on small boats than on large sailing yachts. For years, I have been trying to show other sailors that sailing doesn’t have to be very expensive and can be made on a budget. I encourage others to buy or build small yachts and try to sail at sea.”

Tracker: https://share.garmin.com/T9NXY

Tags: Arek Pawelek , records

VIDEO: Going where you shouldn’t go →

Record setting day on a monohull →

Curb the enthusiasm for records →

Storms spoil solo circumnavigation →

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Latest News: Jack Johnson Wins Solo Globe 5.80 Transat

Small boat. Huge adventure.

Don McIntyre, the Founder of the Class Globe 5.80, named his hull number 01 “TREKKA” in recognition of the first small yacht to circumnavigate the globe.

I read Trekka Round the World by John Guzzwell when I was 16 and that along with many other books inspired me to take to sea. It just seems right to call my Mini Mini Trekka! Don McIntyre

The first small yacht to circumnavigate the world

In 1953, John Guzzwell, while working as a maintenance carpenter for the Canadian Pacific Railway Ferry Service in Victoria, decided to build himself a sailing boat. The English naval architect Laurent Giles planned a 20’ 6’ yawl for 50 pounds sterling, which John built, mostly unaided and with hand tools, in a rented shed behind Johnny Bell’s pizza shop on View Street. He launched Trekka in August 1954, and in September 1955, sailed for Hawaii. Over the next four years he completed a circumnavigation in Trekka, then the smallest vessel ever to do so. He returned to Canada in 1959. He wrote a book about his adventures, Trekka Round the World , which he re-published in 1999. You can read more about the story here .

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Better Sailing

Best Small Sailboats To Sail Around The World

While there are plenty of 30-35ft blue water cruising yachts currently on the used sailboat market, many of them are tired and need new standing rigging, sails, engine, etc. That said, there are good boats out there that have been loved and looked after. Those that are well used have most likely been well maintained, too, so don’t be put off by yachts that have crossed oceans or even circumnavigated before, as their owners will have had to keep them properly seaworthy. Sailing around the world is no easy task, so these boats should be in tip-top shape.

Some might consider 30-35ft too small for bluewater cruising or for a circumnavigation (sail around the world), but that has been disproved over the years. Bigger might be better for coastal cruising with friends, but maintenance costs rise exponentially with every extra foot. A small sailboat should be more than enough to carry a couple off on the adventures of which they dream.

Nicholson 35

Now somewhat legendary, the tough and dependable Nicholson 35 first appeared in 1971, and between then and 1985, some 228 boats were launched. Built to Lloyds’ specifications with a hand-laid solid GRP hull, she boasts a fully encapsulated lead fin keel and full-depth skeg. She has an alluring sheer with nicely balanced overhangs, giving her bows a powerful go-anywhere look, while her low-profile coachroof blends pleasingly into the decks.

Compared to today’s modern cruiser, the Nic 35’s accommodation is somewhat limited due to her relatively narrow beam and pinched ends, but what there is has been used intelligently and makes for a good working environment on long passages. The need to pass through the heads to reach the forecabin can be inconvenient with guests on board. Still, for two people cruising, these minor irritations are more than compensated for with the high quality and solidity of the fittings and joinery and the availability of safe sea berths on passage.

The main saloon is comfortable with 1.88m/6ft 2in headroom. A U-shaped dinette makes a narrow but long double in port, and the 1.92m/6ft 4in-long starboard settee a great sea berth. However, many were fitted with one or two pilot berths above the settee backs instead of lockers. The galley boasts a huge coolbox, full-size gimballed cooker, deep sink, and plenty of stowage. A crash bar, bum strap, and bulkhead pole make it a great working galley at sea. Opposite is a large aft-facing chart table with instrument mounting space on a half bulkhead separating it from the watch seat and wet locker further aft. A few boats had a forward-facing chart table and roomy quarter berth instead.

The water tanks are under the sole above the keel, not under the saloon settees as with many modern crafts. Small portlights and hatches mean natural light and ventilation might not be so plentiful as on a newer boat, but then there is less opportunity for leaks. Her cockpit is business-like – not over wide but with high coamings to support the crew securely and keep them dry. She also has a high bridge deck to stop water going below should a wave find its way into the cockpit and very deep cockpit lockers. The mainsheet track is within reach of the helmsman, just forward of the pedestal, but getting to the primaries entails climbing over the seats from behind the wheel. Her masthead sloop rig has a keelstepped mast. It is stout and uncomplicated, with twin lower shrouds and a removable inner forestay for a storm jib.

Post-1975 models had a taller mast option (51ft as opposed to 45ft), increasing the sail area considerably. No doubt most will now have the control lines led aft into the cockpit for safer shorthanded sailing. Under sail, the Nic comes into her own. She has a very positive helm, although she can be prone to weather helm if overpressed. Her performance under sail is well mannered and drama free. However, her large (145%) genoa can take some sheeting in (don’t leave the inner forestay on). Her high bows part the waves with a gentle motion, and her deep, longish keel keeps her tracking dead straight in a following sea. She won’t break any speed records, averaging around 5 knots on a long passage, but she’ll always get you there safely and in comfort.

Nicholson 35 best small yacht for circumnavigation

Nicholson 35 Specs

>>Also Read: Best Sailboats Under 30 Feet

The Sadler 34 evolved from the 32, and while the 32 was a tough, capable seaworthy sailboat cable of sailing around the world. The 34 offers much more in the way of accommodation thanks to her wider beam. Apart from being pretty, the most notable feature of the 34 is her double-skinned hull, sandwiched with thick closed-cell foam, making her unsinkable and eliminating condensation thanks to the added insulation. She came with a deep fin, shoal fin, or bilge keels, and the post-1990 models had a Stephen Jones-designed, foiled fin keel with ballast bulb that upped upwind performance. Under sail, she is responsive and vice free with a comfy motion and predictable handling. While her pinched (in modern terms) stern might limit the width of the aft cabin, it works well at sea, allowing her deep full skeg-hung rudder to keep a good bite on the water.

The Sadler 34 is quite a powerful performer and, despite having a fairly high displacement, achieves excellent passage times due to her ability to soldier on through foul weather and rough seas. Her deep and secure cockpit is perfectly dimensioned so as not to get thrown around at sea, and yet it provides enough clear seating for dining alfresco with mates. Stowage is also good, especially in the full-depth locker to port. There are harness points in the cockpit, but the mainsheet track runs across the bridge deck, which can catch out the unwary if the traveler isn’t locked in place.

On deck, the layout is practical, and the side decks uncluttered. Her foredeck is set up ideally for regular anchoring with a twin roller stemhead fitting and big anchor locker. Her accommodation is spacious enough for four. Though it was called a ‘double’ aft cabin, it only really works as a single, roomy quarterberth. She has an excellent U-shaped galley where pretty much everything can be reached with ease. The chart table opposite faces forward with its own seat, and there’s room aplenty for instruments and pilot books. Her saloon is roomy, and the table and seating are large enough for six to dine in comfort.

To port, the heads have a basin and its own door, allowing access to the forecabin. But in shower mode, the entire compartment runs athwartships, which isn’t ideal, especially as the hanging locker is in the same enclosure. There’s a decent-sized vee berth forward, which makes an ideal owner’s cabin at anchor. Stowage is reasonable, although the water tank is under the starboard settee.

Sadler 34 Specs

>>Also Read: Best Sailboats Under 100k

Not unlike the Nicholson 35 in both hull lines and reputation, the Rival 36 is a tough, solid yacht designed for passagemaking in virtually all weathers and sea conditions. The 36 slotted between the slightly cramped 34 and the larger 38 ketch, with 78 in total being launched. Possibly a squeeze on such a tight budget, but you get a lot more space in the R36 than the older R34, and there’s a good chance you could find one that’s already equipped for bluewater cruising. She was offered as a masthead sloop or with a cutter rig option. Keel choice was between a deep lead-ballasted fin, a shallower Scheel keel, or a centerboard (R36C).

Under sail, she’s predictable and easily handled, although, like her predecessors, she’s not the fastest boat around. As with most heavy displacement cruisers, she’s designed more to get you safely across oceans than to race around the cans. Wheel or tiller-steered, she has a large, deep cockpit with high coamings and excellent stowage for deck gear. Access along the wide side decks is good, assisted One of a range of solidly built and well-found cruising yachts built by Northshore Yachts, the Vancouver 32 was designed specifically for serious passagemaking.

Full hull sections and short overhangs offer a high-volume yacht with excellent load-carrying abilities. Her fully encapsulated shallow keel contains nearly 3 tonnes of lead ballast, giving her an enviable ballast ratio of nearly 45%; a keel shoe extends aft to support the rudder and protect the prop from floating debris and lines. Only available with tiller steering and transom-hung rudder, she has an easily manageable masthead cutter rig with full shrouds and twin straight spreaders.

A smart teak-capped bulwark offers extra security going forward while large scuppers ensure rapid deck drainage. The interior is surprisingly spacious and comfy. The long quarterberth and port-side straight by high teak-capped gunwales and long handrails on the coachroof, and the foredeck big enough for handling the headsails and ground tackle, which can be securely stowed in the large, deep anchor locker when sailing. Below decks, she is warm and woody and retains the trademark Rival ‘keyhole’ bulkhead separating the superbly designed and well-appointed galley and navigation areas from the saloon. The twin-leaf saloon table has fiddles and can seat six for a meal, while the settees are straight and make comfortable 1.91m-long sea berths with lee cloths. Most had a pipe cot above as well.

Maximum headroom is 1.91m/6ft 3in, and stowage is good, thanks in part to the water tank being above the keel. With no double cabin aft and only a quarterberth, the forecabin provides a comfortable vee berth with ample floor space to dress, plenty of lockers to stow your clothing, and even a dressing table. The heads/shower compartment is also roomy, and Jack and Jill doors offer access from both saloon and forecabin.

Rival 36 - best used sailboats to sail around the world

Rival 36 Specs

>>Also Read: Best Sailboat Brands

Vancouver 32

One of a range of solidly built and well-found cruising yachts built by Northshore Yachts, the Vancouver 32 was designed specifically for serious passage making. Full hull sections and short overhangs offer a high-volume yacht with excellent load-carrying abilities. Her fully encapsulated shallow keel contains nearly 3 tonnes of lead ballast, giving her an enviable ballast ratio of nearly 45%; a keel shoe extends aft to support the rudder and protect the prop from floating debris and lines. Only available with tiller steering and transom-hung rudder, she has an easily manageable masthead cutter rig with full shrouds and twin straight spreaders. A smart teak-capped bulwark offers extra security going forward while large scuppers ensure rapid deck drainage. The interior is surprisingly spacious and comfy.

The long quarterberth and port-side straight settees make excellent sea berths, leaving the U-shaped starboard saloon settee (converts into double berth) and roomy vee berth forward for sleeping at anchor. A half bulkhead separates the galley/navigation areas from the saloon, with a support pillar on either side providing excellent handgrips. It’s a bonus having the quarter berths behind the ch

art table as it allows the off-watch crew to keep one eye on the instruments and chart. However, having the heads forward can result in a lot of water dripping off your oilies when going below in wet weather.

All that lovely solid hardwood adds to her weight (nearly twice that of a modern 32ft Bavaria). Most owners are more concerned with her superb oceangoing abilities, though. She sails predictably and undramatically, her high bows and fine balance ensuring she parts the waves with little spray and no slamming – ideal for long passages where many lighter boats can throw you about.

Vancouver 32 - Best Sailing Boat To Sail Around The World

Vancouver 32 Specs

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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Planning a Circumnavigation

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Last Updated on September 13, 2023 by Amy

Plotting world circumnavigation routes is a lot easier than it sounds. There are cruising boats LITERALLY all over the world. There are boats in the Northwest passage (up and over Canada), in the Antarctic, and everywhere in between. There are a few key things to take into consideration, but 95%* of circumnavigation routes follow the same general course.

Table of Contents - Click to Jump

Insurance Restrictions on Circumnavigation Routes

There are two major restrictions put on us by our vessel insurance; stay out of highly pirated areas and stay out of named storm zones. Insurance restrictions come with the option to ignore them. You can always go to these restricted places, BUT if something happens, your insurance will not be covered. Another option is that you can pay significantly more to be covered in these places as well. We have made the choice for ourselves to follow the restrictions set by our insurance.

By definition, piracy is the act of attacking and robbing ships at sea. By that main definition, the Caribbean is one of the worst places for piracy. Petty theft of boats and their tenders is a major issue in some parts of the Caribbean, and steps should be taken to protect yourself and your assets.

However, the piracy of the biggest concern is murder and kidnapping. There are two main hotspots where our insurance will not cover us; the Philippines and the Red Sea/Suez Canal (hereby referred to as simply Suez). Again, people cruise literally everywhere in the world, and there are people who cruise the Philippines (2015 reports state 200 yachts). The other side of the coin is true too. Just because you avoid the Suez or the Philippines does not mean you will avoid being kidnapped or murdered.

It’s up to you to decide the level of risk you are willing to take when planning out a circumnavigation route.

Tropical Storms

In North America, it’s a hurricane. South of the equator, it’s cyclones. In Asia-Pacific, it’s typhoons. Either way, your insurance probably has a word or two to say about where you spend tropical storm season.

Our insurance requires us to avoid certain parts of the world during storm seasons. This is why there is a mass exodus of boats from the Caribbean every year. Our insurance requires us to be north of roughly the Florida-Georgia line. Now, that doesn’t mean we are safe from hurricanes, but it does mean if something happens, we will have the privilege of consoling ourselves of our losses by applying for an insurance claim.

For those moving quickly, your primary concern is systems in the southern hemisphere. Just make sure you are moving from east to west quickly enough to pass through the storm zone.

World circumnavigation routes, like ours, usually have you dipping out of these storm zones for the season. It’s a great time to haul your boat out for annual maintenance, like we did in New Zealand, Australia, and Thailand.

Tradewinds for Circumnavigating

Around the equator lies the doldrums. This is typically an area with very little wind. However, each ocean has a wind pattern. In the northern hemisphere, winds circulate clockwise. In the southern hemisphere, winds circulate counterclockwise. This means that on either side of the equator lies a band of wind flowing from east to west. This is why 95%* of cruisers plan their circumnavigation routes to sail from east to west.

Factoring the Wind into Outfitting Your Boat

Knowing where you will sail will help you determine what kind of sail performance you are looking for in a boat. For someone doing a typical circumnavigation route, sailing east to west, you’ll be sailing downwind a lot. Some monohull owners have complained to us about how uncomfortable their boat is sailing dead downwind. Catamarans, however, typically perform best downwind. We have a very smooth ride when we are traveling with the wind and waves.

Outfitting your sail locker also factors in where you are sailing. For a downwind circumnavigation, spinnakers are highly useful – or so we hear. We’ve not had terrible success with our spinnaker, but find our screecher to be very useful. That could possibly be because we deviate enough from the standard downwind route.

For more about sail configurations in a cruising catamaran, read our Sail Trim blog post.

Those Who Sail West to East Circumnavigation Routes

There are a few who do sail the “wrong way”. It can definitely be done and done fast. However, you need to have a boat that sails well to wind. While most catamarans sail well downwind, we do not sail well into the wind. However, if your catamaran has daggerboards, you’ll sail much better to wind than a catamaran without daggerboards.

Circumnavigation Routes & Bottlenecks

This is why most circumnavigations follow the same basic route. There are major bottlenecks to passing around the continents, so again, we’ve got the 95%* of boats funneling into one narrow part of the world.

Panama Canal

We paid $1300 to transit the Panama Canal because the only other option is to sail against the wind and waves around either North America or South America. Taking one of the high latitudes routes is pretty dang extreme, takes a significant amount of time, and a toll on ship and crew. Ushuaia, a port of call in Argentina, reported 64 boats in 2015, versus 1,079 boats transiting the canal – 95% transiting the canal*.

Torres Strait

The Torres Strait occupies the space between Australia and New Guinea. It’s fairly small, just 650 nm between Thursday Island and Indonesia’s first port of clearance.

There are some cruisers (like our friends on S/V Field Trip) who are going over the top of New Guinea to get to Southeast Asia. Getting any further north than that requires dealing with the Philippines – either through or around the top of the Philippines into the South China Sea.

Cape of Good Hope

Traveling around South Africa requires tackling the Cape of Good Hope, which is not to be taken lightly due to the challenges in the winds and currents. The alternative is the Suez. There used to be a rally passing through the Suez. The other alternative is to hire private security, but that’s pretty complex. Reports show 358 boats sailing through Cape Town verses 19 through the Suez – again, 95% choose Cape Town*. I know the Mediterranean is a great cruising ground, but we decided if we want to cruise it, we’d rather cross the Atlantic twice than go through the Suez.

How Long Should a Circumnavigation Take?

Barring racing yachts who are smashing world records, it’s not uncommon to complete a circumnavigation in a year and a half. This is a fairly straightforward and quick route.

The World ARC is a one and a half year rally that circumnavigates the world. They have a fantastic route and schedule on their website.

Longer circumnavigation routes still use the same general track, but add on detours. For example, we extended our South Pacific portion into two seasons by sailing south to spend cyclone season in New Zealand.

We’ve met sailors who have taken 15 or more years to circumnavigate. That’s a lot of detours!

Our Circumnavigation Route

Our sailing circumnavigation route took us four years and three months to travel all the way around the world. You can read the summary of our world circumnavigation for more details.

Book: World Cruising Routes

This is LITERALLY the bible of sailing around the world. If you have ever asked yourself (or, god help you, asked on a forum) “I wonder when the best time to sail from X to Y is?” the answer is in this book.

Even though we know our route, I’m still pulling out this book every so often to look up possibilities. It’s a great guide to planning your circumnavigation route overall and planning each individual passage.

Buy Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Routes .

Book: Cornell’s Ocean Atlas

This handy reference book is full of windgrams – “a summary of wind direction and strength derived from the individual windroses along a specific ocean route “. Basically this means you can open a chart for a particular region and month and you will be able to tell where the wind “usually” blows from.

Buy Cornell’s Ocean Atlas .

Book Review: How to Sail Around the World Part-Time

Who: Linus Wilson and his wife, Janna
Available: Kindle, Kindle Unlimited or Paperback
Published: January 2016
Editing (scale of 1-10, 10 is best): 10

Linus Wilson has been cruising part-time on his 31-foot Island Packet. This is his second book, and in it, he details how one could sail a circumnavigation part-time. I agree – it is possible and might be the solution more potential cruisers should consider.

Wilson pulls a lot of statistics about sailing. Did you know fewer people complete a sailing circumnavigation every year than climb Mount Everest? An hour spent above base camp on Mount Everest is 264 times more dangerous than an hour sailing?

One question unanswered is how long it would actually take to sail the world part-time. Of course, it depends on how much time you dedicate every year, but hypothetically:

Year 1: the Caribbean to Panama, store in Panama
Year 2: Panama to French Polynesia, store in FP
Year 3: French Polynesia to Fiji, store in Fiji
Year 4: Fiji to Australia, store in Australia
Year 5: Australia to South Africa, store in SA
Year 6: SA to the Caribbean

Of course, you’d see a lot less than you would on a 6-year circumnavigation like ours, but you get it done in a fraction of the cost and less risk.

Bottom line: it was a short, interesting, and informative read. If you don’t want to full-time sail, or can’t convince your partner to full-time sail, consider how fulfilling a part-time adventure could be.

*Jimmy Cornell is the foremost expert on tracking cruising boats, and the statistics for this blog post were pulled from his article Where do all the boats go?

23 Comments

Wonderful article. I am from Goa, India. I wish you had come to Goa. I would have happily looked after your boat, and you could have travelled through India and enjoyed its majestic and diverse cultures and sites. I am 67 years old grandfather. I have been coastal and competitive sailing for the past 50 years. I am now planning to go on a circumnavigation on a Leopard 39 sailboat starting from Goa. Hoping to do it in 2 to 3 years. Your article and videos have inspired me. All the best. Thank you for your well written and detailed articles.

Wow, great to hear from you! It is amazing to us when we hear from people like you all over the world! We have some friends who visited Cochin last year on their boat, I think that’s a popular stop for cruisers. I know that formalities in India are complicated.

I have never been, but I love the food and the culture that I’ve experienced so far! I hope we get to visit someday.

Do sail down to Goa anytime you want. I will sort out all you entry formalities. Wish you all the best. Keep inspiring us with your wonderful sailing and videos.

Hi, how many miles is it when circumnavigating around the earth please? Captain cook did it in 60k, but is this because you cant just sail direct around the earth due to islands and storms etc?

Hi! Our circumnavigation was about 34,000 nm. You can read more about it here: https://outchasingstars.com/world-sailing-circumnavigation-summary/

Amy, when you and David are on a long passage, what kind of watch schedule do you keep? Assuming you’re both healthy (unlike your passage to St. Helena), what do you find to be a comfortable limit for the number of days at sea before exhaustion begins to set in?…or does it ever set in for you guys?

We do a soft 7-hour watch. The only actual watch is I do 7 pm to 2 am. Then David goes on watch while I sleep. When I wake up we switch, and he naps. Then when he’s up, I nap. By then it’s time to do the whole thing all over again! The worst night is the second. You’ve been tired, but not tired enough to sleep off your normal routine yet. But after the second night it gets a lot better. Exhaustion does not set in long-term – boredom does!

I really enjoyed reading your article, it’s very informative although that I don’t have a boat, it’s too expensive where I’m from, and it would take a fortune to be registered if it’s allowed in the first place, as authorities put a lot of restrictions for civil citizen to do so after military took over in 60s, for example we can’t camp as a first without a security permit bla bla bla that it raerly issued or thread fishing without a license and permit bla bla bla….etc, there isn’t a proper Marina for docking not even mention the amount of visas that it required. I love to sail one-day but till that time I’m really enjoy reading and watching. I’m from Egypt, and it makes me sad that sailors stop passing by, as we have a great shores, great diving spots, the Suez canal, and the right wind, but to be considered as unstable area for the Somalian pirates acts, and all the Egyptian governmental claims about fighting terrorist and repel ghost they imagine, this is horrible. It’s really tearing me that after around 8000 years on Earth people couldn’t yet handle their conflicts. I’m sorry to make it very long. Glad that some people had the privilege to try and be able to chasing stars and wind. Godspeed

Sarah, thank you for your comment! It’s amazing to us that we have someone reading from Egypt!

I recently read a memoir about a yacht who sailed through the Suez, and it sounded like they had a lot of difficulties, not just with pirates and corruption, but it’s hard sailing too! Egypt is very high up on my list of places I would truly love to visit because of its amazing history and culture.

We hope that somehow you get to enjoy sailing, even if it’s just continuing to follow us along.

You are amazing, all the best in your upcoming, and hopefully everyone can enjoy sailing in Egypt one day, and be able to see you here in the future.

Hi Amy, first, what a nice simple but very informative blog. I have run a ‘sailing for disabled people’ organisation for the last 25 years and as part of our 25th anniversary are planning to build a 20m cat for a round the world adventure. Planned for start in 2025 I need to get people to understand the real dangers and risks of such travel as well as the good things, would you mind if I used your blog in this matter, I would of course say that is yours. Details of us are under the ‘new projects button’ at http://www.disabledsailing.org

Hi Mike! You are welcome to link to our blog post. If you need anything beyond that, send us an email and we can talk more!

Excellent and informative article. I’d just like to point out the following statement where it states: “Ushuaia, a port of call in Chile, reported 64 boats in 2015….”

Please note that Ushuaia is not located in Chile, but rather within the Tierra del Fuego province of Argentina.

Thank you so much for the correction! I will fix it right away. Geography lesson of the day. 😉

Now you can completely delete my comment 🙂 It’s all sorted. Happy and safe sailing to you and your family. Antonella

Nice write up. Very helpful. Keep up the good work. However sailing through the suez is not really that dangerous. My friends Ingo and Maya sailed through from turkey to India and onward to thailand and had no probs with pirates.

I do hear that the piracy situation is improving. I do think there are a lot of good reasons to go around South Africa though, and I am glad we did.

Great informative article, thanks for sharing.

Where do you store your bladder when it is full? Also, thanks for all the info and videos. It has helped us a great deal in preparation for purchasing our boat,

Thank you! I’m glad you’ve found it helpful. We store the duel bladder in the cockpit.

On the longer passages, how much extra fuel do you carry in your blatter tank. What motering range do you think is sufficient for your longer passages?. I’m thinking the Helia goes about 750 miles on 125 gallons of diesel. Thanks Jon

Our fuel tank holds 125 gallons, plus four 5-gallon jerry cans, plus the 50-gallon fuel bladder, to total 195 gallons. If we motor at 1800 rpms with one engine it’s roughly .8 gph. Theoretically, our tanks should take us about 900 nm. Of course, we go months and thousands of miles without using all of our diesel.

Joshua Slocum and his first Single-handed Sail around the World

Joshua Slocum (1844-1909)

On June 27, 1898 , the first solo circumnavigation of the globe is completed by Joshua Slocum from Brier Island , Nova Scotia . After more than three years, Slocum returned in his gaff rigged sloop oyster boat named Spray having circumnavigated the world, a distance of more than 74,000 km. The event was almost unnoticed because the Spanish–American War , which had begun two months earlier, dominated all the headlines.

Joshua Slocum – Youth and Education

Joshua Slocum grew up in Mount Hanley , Annapolis County , Nova Scotia . It is assumed that his early adventures on the water were accomplished on coastal schooners operating out of the small ports such as Port George and Cottage Cove near Mount Hanley along the Bay of Fundy . It has been reported that as a young boy, Slocum made several attempts to run away from home and finally succeeding at the age of 14. He hired on as a cabin boy and cook on a small schooner and later he signed on at Halifax as ordinary seamen on a merchant ship bound for Dublin, Ireland and eventually became an ordinary seaman on a British merchant ship bound for China . Slocum studied for the Board of Trade examination and became Second Mate and later Chief Mate .

Photo of Spray, en:Joshua Slocum ‘s sailing boat, taken in 1898.

Slocim’s Ships

Joshua Slocum ‘s first blue-water command was the barque Washington which he took across the Pacific in 1869 and was the master of eight vessels in the following 20 years . Slocum ‘s first ship he owned by himself was the Pato , which he used to deliver cargo . In Fairhaven, Massachusetts , Slocum rebuilt a 11.2 m gaff rigged sloop oyster boat named Spray and set sail at Sambro Island Lighthouse near Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 3, 1895 to navigate around the globe without using a chronometer . It is believed that during his journey, Slocum normally sailed the Spray without touching the helm. The Spray was capable of self-steering because of its long keel and the length of the sail plan . He balanced the ship stably on any course relative to the wind by adjusting or reefing the sails and by lashing the helm fast. It is believed that the adventurer sailed about 2000 miles across the Pacific Ocean without touching the helm .

Circumnavigation of the World

On April 24, 1895, Slocum set out on his journey from his home port of Boston, Massachusetts. In the ports of the American East Coast he first completed his equipment and sailed from Yarmouth into the Atlantic Ocean in May 1895, as he first planned to circumnavigate the world in an easterly direction through the Suez Canal. Via Horta on the Azores island of Fayal he reached Gibraltar on August 4. There he was convinced that the southern Mediterranean Sea was too dangerous for a one-handed sailor because of the piracy still prevailing there, and he decided to circumnavigate the southern hemisphere in a westerly direction. From Gibraltar, he set off in a south-westerly direction, sailed past the Canary Island of Fuerteventura and the Cape Verde Islands , crossed the equator and reached Pernambuco in Brazil on 5 October. After further stopovers in Rio de Janeiro , Montevideo and Buenos Aires , he sailed to Punta Arenas in the dreaded Strait of Magellan and reached the Pacific Ocean at Cape Pilar on 3 March 1896. There he was driven back by the storm and could only leave the coast forty days later on 13 April.

The Journey

Via Robinson Island and Samoa , Slocum reached Newcastle in Australia on 1 October 1896. He stayed for more than half a year, visiting Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania and did not continue his journey until 16 April 1897. He followed the east coast of Australia on the Great Barrier Reef, sailed through the Torres Strait, crossed the southern Indian Ocean via Christmas Island, the Cocos Islands, Rodrigues and Mauritius and reached Port Natal in South Africa on 17 November 1897. He circumnavigated the Cape of Good Hope and after a stay in Cape Town he set off again on 26 March 1898 to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a north-western direction. His course took him via St. Helena and Ascension, past Trinidad, via Grenada and Dominica to Antigua, which he reached on 1 June 1898. The last leg led him directly to Newport (Rhode Island), where he arrived on 27 June 1898, having circumnavigated the world, a distance of more than 46,000 miles. Unfortunately for him, Slocum’s return went almost unnoticed. The Spanish–American War , which had begun two months earlier, dominated the headlines. After the end of major hostilities, many American newspapers published articles describing Slocum’s amazing journey.

“I had resolved on a voyage around the world, and as the wind on the morning of April 24, 1895 was fair, at noon I weighed anchor, set sail, and filled away from Boston, where the Spray had been moored snugly all winter. The twelve o’clock whistles were blowing just as the sloop shot ahead under full sail. A short board was made up the harbor on the port tack, then coming about she stood to seaward, with her boom well off to port, and swung past the ferries with lively heels. A photographer on the outer pier of East Boston got a picture of her as she swept by, her flag at the peak throwing her folds clear. A thrilling pulse beat high in me. My step was light on deck in the crisp air. I felt there could be no turning back, and that I was engaging in an adventure the meaning of which I thoroughly understood.” — Joshua Slocum, Sailing Around the World (1899)

Book cover of Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum, c. 1900

Sailing Alone around the World

Slocum’s adventure was published in 1899 in ‘ Sailing Alone Around the World ‘ and it became very successful and now counts as a classic in sailing literature. He became famous around the English-speaking world and held public lectures. In 1909 , Slocum set sail for the West Indies and disappeared. In July 1910 , his wife reported Slocum to be missing. 1924 , Joshua Slocum was declared legally dead.

References and Further Reading:

[1] Joshua Slocum Society
[2] Joshua Slocum Website
[3] Sailing Alone Around the World
[4] Joshua Slocum at Wikidata
[5] The Mysterious Disappearance Of A Sea Pioneer | Joshua Slocum Documentary | Timeline , Timeline – World History Documentaries @ youtube
[6] Slocum, Joshua (1894). “Voyage of the Destroyer from New York to Brazil” . Eldritch Press
[7] Teller, Walter Magnes (1971). Joshua Slocum . New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press .
[8] Works by or about Joshua Slocum at Internet Archive
[9] e-text of Sailing Alone Around the World with illustrations
[10] Timeline of Explorers, who were also known as writers, via Wikidata

Tabea Tietz

Related posts, sidney fox and his research for the origins of life, frederick william twort and the bacteriophages, henry the navigator and the age of discoveries, edward condon – pioneer in quantum mechanics – scihi blog, one comment.

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Yacht Cruising Lifestyle

Everything fun you can do from your yacht

Sailing Around The World – Planning For Global Circumnavigation

August 14, 2021 by Martin Parker Leave a Comment

various sailing gear for global circumnavigation

There’s something about sailing around the world that captures the imagination and inspires. For some, it’s the reason for learning to sail in the first place. Others only start to think about global circumnavigation as their skills and experience grow. Regardless of what motivates you to circumnavigate, one thing remains true. For most, it will be the challenge of a lifetime.

But how do you start the process? For someone new to sailing, the prospect of circumnavigation can be truly daunting. With so much to think about and plan for, many get overwhelmed and abandon their dreams before they begin.

This brief article aims to get you thinking about the task of circumnavigation and what it takes to practically and successfully navigate the process, from start to finish.

What Constitutes a Global Circumnavigation?

The definition of circumnavigation is a matter of debate, but there are some defined rules regarding a nautical, wind-powered trip where racing is concerned. A basic description would be to follow a route that forms a great circle. The passage must be at least 21,600 nautical miles for racing, and you must cross the equator, starting and finishing in the same port.

A cruising circumnavigation will often take a route that covers a much greater distance, with multiple diversions to visit places of interest. So long as you meet the essential criteria stated above, it can be classed as a circumnavigation.

If you are in a hurry, the current world record is held by Francois Gabart. He completed an official circumnavigation in just 42 days, 16 hours, and 40 minutes in December 2017.

No Substitute for Experience When Sailing Around the World

sailing around the world on a single hull sailboat

Some people spend a lifetime planning their trip, while others have just thrown the basics together and departed. In both cases, some have been successful, and some have not. We are trying to point out that while your planning is a necessary task, it does not guarantee success. Our best advice? Don’t keep putting off your departure because you haven’t planned everything 100%.

Start with the basic, most important tasks, and get ready to learn as you go. After all, thinking on your feet will be a big part of your circumnavigation journey.

Solo Circumnavigation, or Go With a Crew?

a man helps adjust the sails on a sailboat

Single-handed circumnavigation is perfectly possible. However, it’s a huge challenge that presents certain obstacles and dangers you could avoid with a crew. We highly recommend going with a crew for your first attempt, be it friends, family, or staff. The average time for cruising circumnavigation is around 18 months, although many people travel slowly over multiple years.

If none of your family and friends are keen, you can use websites like Ocean Crew Link to find crew. You could also consider joining another boat as part of a crew to complete your first journey.

How Long Will it Take to Circumnavigate the Globe?

This really is an open-ended question. How long you have might be a better question. If you’re in a hurry, the current world record is just under 43 days. For most of us, though, we’re circumnavigating to see more of the world at a leisurely pace.

On average, most complete their journey in approximately 18 months. Riley and Elayna from Sailing La Vagabonde started their trip in 2014 and are still going strong. They have even begun raising their young son on board during the journey. Theirs is a lifestyle choice that most won’t want, though. They even took a risky approach and started sailing around the world with little to no experience. It’s a route we wouldn’t recommend, but it shows that circumnavigation is possible – even for beginners.

In the end, your circumstances and endurance will determine how long you spend on your journey.

Is Sailing Around the World Dangerous?

The US Coast Guard practices an emergency rescue drill at sea

If anyone tries to tell you that it’s not slightly dangerous to circumnavigate the globe, don’t believe them. Sailing thousands of miles from land, passing through inclement weather, and relying on yourself and your crew presents many challenges and at least some level of risk. With proper knowledge, planning, and execution, though, you should be able to navigate your way through safely. By correctly preparing for your journey, you’ll have a better understanding of the risks, allowing you to reduce or even eliminate certain dangers.

A good starting point is learning your basic sailing skills. These skills include setting your sails and trim, boat handling, and basic navigation, to name a few. Practicing emergency procedures also helps to set yourself up to manage emergency scenarios if they arise. Man-overboard scenarios, how to make a mayday or pan-pan call, having sufficient rescue equipment, and having excellent navigation skills will all help prepare you to make the best of a bad situation. There is a wealth of information and training available both online and through professional organizations, and we strongly recommend taking several training courses until you feel adequately prepared.

Choosing a Boat for Global Circumnavigation

A sailboat sits on the horizon while sailing around the world

When you consider that people have successfully traversed the oceans in a myriad of craft – including small rowing boats – perhaps the type of boat you choose is not the most critical factor. It’s true that with help, you can cross oceans in almost anything, but the less suitable the boat, the more challenging, uncomfortable, and dangerous it will ultimately be.

The range of boats available may seem baffling, but the standard for making significant passages are the cruising bluewater style yachts. Our recent article on bluewater sailboats for under $100,000 offers insight into some well-known, competent, and affordable cruising yachts .

Vessel Considerations For Sailing Around the World

Size: Yacht size affects many different aspects of sailing. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time onboard, having the extra space of a 40-foot yacht or bigger will undoubtedly come in handy. In this yacht category, you’ll also get a good sail area to cater to the varying conditions you’ll encounter.
Weight: Although a heavy yacht won’t break any speed records, it will keep you steady when the sea conditions are challenging. Strong winds can become challenging in the open ocean, and having a heavy-displacement vessel will help you keep your course.
Keel Design: Fin keels are very popular, and they’re featured on many modern boat designs. However, carefully consider where you intend to go. A bilge keel, for example, gives you a lower draught so you can visit more shallow waterways and will allow you to moor in areas where the tide will leave you aground. Additional benefits include easier maintenance when aground and reduced roll for added comfort.
Sailing Winches: There are pros and cons to electric and manual winches, but hand winches make sense on circumnavigation passages from a practical point of view. Electric winches save you effort and help if you are sailing short-handed, but they need an efficient power source. Manual winches are more straightforward and less likely to cause you trouble.

What Gear Do You Need for Sailing Around the World?

Orange and yellow emergency life raft used for sailing around the world

There is some sailing gear that is essential for safely navigating a circumnavigation. While this list is far from exhaustive, your boat should be equipped with the following:

Life Jackets: This should go without saying, but it’s amazing how many don’t consider it essential. Ending up in the water thousands of miles from land is scary enough, but it could very well be a death sentence without a buoyancy device.
Lifeline: Prevention is better than a fix, so attaching yourself to the boat by a lifeline should be common sense when conditions call for it.
Ocean Liferaft: Inside should be an equipment and ration pack that will last longer than 24 hours.
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB): An EPIRB is a device that automatically begins transmitting a rescue signal as soon as it’s submerged in water.
Battery Charging System: You will spend most of your time sailing during a circumnavigation. Running your engine to charge your batteries will not last long, and it’s also not advisable. Install at least one method, but preferably two or more, that can charge your batteries under sail. Solar panels, wind turbines, and towed impellors give you three different options for power, depending on the conditions.
SSB Radio: A Single Side Band (SSB) radio is a commonly used maritime communication system in the open ocean and remote parts of the world. Although AM radios are also widely used, SSB radios offer much better reliability and performance.
Pactor Modem: Connecting your SSB to a modem will allow you to send and receive emails nearly anywhere at sea.
Flare Pack: Flare packs are used to signal distress to other boats or rescue services, and having them on board could potentially save your life.

Other Items to Consider for Sailing Around the World:

AIS Transponder: Safe navigation at sea, particularly at night, requires at least one pair of eyes to monitor the sea for natural obstacles and other ships. While using an AIS transponder does not remove this requirement, it gives you additional information to avoid collisions at sea.
Satellite Phone: Keeping in contact with friends and family can be a lifeline that keeps you going in the most challenging times. A satellite phone will allow you to make direct calls from nearly anywhere on the ocean.

Natural Factors to Consider Before Global Circumnavigation

Your circumnavigation journey will cover more than 21,000 miles, and during that time, you will likely encounter everything mother nature can throw at you. Through good planning, though, you can choose to avoid the worst of the weather and take advantage of favorable winds and ocean currents.

Trade Winds

The trade winds blow continuously throughout the year, thanks to cold air at the poles and warm air at the equator. These temperature differences create westerly winds (from the west) at the poles and easterly winds around the equator.

Trade winds nearer the poles are much stronger than at the equator, and racers tend to take advantage of this – the passage will be colder and far less comfortable, though.

Cyclone and Hurricane Season

Cyclones and hurricanes occur mainly when the ocean water is warm. This happens between July and October in the northern hemisphere and between December and April in the southern hemisphere. Using this information, it’s a simple task to plan your passage, avoiding the main storm seasons. Of course, storms can still occur at any time in the year, so always be prepared for the unexpected.

Major Ocean Currents

In general, the ocean’s major currents follow the direction of the trade winds, but in some areas, such as South Africa, they can work against you. This makes following the trade winds even more appealing when sailing around the world.

Things To Do Before Sailing Around the World

White and green sailboat used for sailing around the world

Below, we outline some of the ways you should prepare before setting out on your first circumnavigation.

As we mentioned previously, some intrepid sailors have completed circumnavigations with no formal training and have learned while en route. While it is possible to do this, we wholeheartedly recommend you get some basic training before setting off.

Most sailing courses around the world offer certification that is acceptable in other countries. The Royal Yachting Association is the primary certification agency in the UK, and the US Sailing School is the leading agency in the US.

The most widely accepted certificate is the International Certificate of Competence for Operator of Pleasure Craft (ICC). Once you have your national license, you can apply for the ICC, which is accepted in virtually every country worldwide. Even if a country doesn’t accept the ICC, most charter companies will, allowing you to charter a yacht nearly anywhere.

A variety of insurance policies are available for sailors, but there will likely be clauses in the policy referring to piracy and storms. If you ignore the clauses and visit restricted areas, your insurance will not cover an incident.

Piracy refers to anything from abduction and murder to petty theft and assault. Depending on where you’re at in the world, you’ll need to be vigilant to combat potential downfalls.

The Philippines and the Suez Canal are two hotspots for more severe piracy, and your insurance likely will specify these areas as high risk.

Only you can assess the risk you are willing to take. Avoiding known problem areas can be beneficial, but incidents can still occur anywhere in the world.

Get the Right Sails For Your Route

Assuming you will follow a typical cruising circumnavigation route, you’ll spend most of your time downwind. Aside from the fact that many monohull sailors find continuous downwind sailing uncomfortable, you’ll need to kit out the sail locker appropriately. Spinnakers and screechers are the order of the day, along with standard genoa sizes or furling genoa.

Many countries require visas for transit through them, and depending on where you’re going, they could take weeks or even months to traverse. You need to plan carefully, as arriving in a country’s waters without the correct paperwork could prove troublesome.

Interested in joining a like-minded social circle? Get a conversation started on the new #BoatLife forum by leaving a question or comment today!

If you found this article helpful, please leave a comment below, share it on social media, and subscribe to our email list.

For direct questions and comments, shoot me an email at [email protected]

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Smallest wind-powered boat to circumnavigate the globe

The smallest wind-powered boat to circumnavigate the globe is Acrohc Australis , which measured 3.60 m (11 ft 9 in) and was captained by Serge Testa (Australia), from 9 June 1984 to 16 May 1987.

Testa's journey started and ended in Brisbane, Australia, via the Panama canal. The self-designed boat was structured so that all controls could be operated from inside, allowing the captain to close the hatch in bad weather conditions.

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Largest backpack/rucksack, largest passive factory (passivhaus).

The Cost of Sailing Around the World: I've Done It

The idea of sailing around the world is beautiful, but it bears certain financial realities with it. To figure out how much money you will need to make the circumnavigation dream a reality, we have put together an article that explains how much it cost to sail around the world - with as much detail as possible.

So what is the cost of sailing around the world?

Sailboat Purchase : $3,000 - infinity, with $50,000 being a good start
Sailboat Refit : $0 - infinity, with $20,000 being a good start
Sailboat Survey : around $1,000 for an average boat
Food : $200 monthly
Maintenance : $200 - $650 on average, with more for pricier boats
Communications : $100 for a basic sat phone plan
Insurance : $200 monthly for an average scenario
Fuel : $50 - $100 monthly
Administrative fees : $100 - $300 monthly
Docking and mooring : $200 monthly
Inland Exploration : $0 - $200 monthly on average
Flying Home : $85 monthly

Total: $70,000 upfront cost + $1,500 monthly

The answer is of course quite complex and there are many variables to it - so to figure out your specific scenario, read on.

Sailboat will cost $50,000

Unless you already have one, in which case skip this chapter, before you set sail, you will need a seaworthy boat. And right in the beginning, I have some imprecise figures for you - the spread here is huge. The figure you are looking for starts at around $3,000 and the sky's the limit.

The good news about me not giving you a more reasonable range is that whatever your budget, you can afford it.

The smallest and cheapest sailboat for circumnavigation

The cheapest seaworthy boat you can get is Hurley 22, which can be yours for $3,000 - and I'm not talking about a fixer-upper project, but a boat that, for this price, can be ready to sail. Here is our article where we praise this little fella.

A larger boat might be better

On the other side of the specter are sailboats larger and more comfortable than an average apartment. The choice is yours. But know that size is not a determining factor in seaworthiness. Not that large boats don't have many advantages, but they aren't a prerequisite. This article goes in-depth about how boat size influences your circumnavigating experience.

A good circumnavigator will cost $50,000

All that being said, if you insist, I'll give you a concrete figure - it's $50,000. If you are in the market for a circumnavigator, I recommend having at least this amount to spend. By no means I am saying it can't be done for way less, but if you want a relatively comfortable space for choosing, both in terms of model and condition, this is what I'd aim for.

A word of caution - when shopping for your boat, don't spend the whole budget on the purchase. Spend about 80% of it. After you get your boat, there will be additional expenses. And that brings us to the following category.

The total cost of sailboats

If you want to learn more about all the costs involved in purchasing and owning a sailboat, I highly recommend checking out this article, which provides a very detailed look at all the ownership costs of sailboats .

Refit will cost $10,000 - $20,000

Whether you have just bought a boat that needs a few repairs, or you want to make sure it is up to the task, you might want to spend some money on the refit.

There is no way of telling how much will that cost in your specific case since it depends on the state the boat will be in. But after you are done with the refit, make sure the condition is tip top. When on the road, you don't want to be forced to make more repairs than necessary.

But to be specific, as a rule of thumb, around 20% of what the purchasing cost of your sailboat was, you should have for this category. So for that hypothetical $50,000 boat mentioned above, $10,000 would be spent on upgrades.

For a detailed overview on refitting costs , make sure to check out our article on it.

There are many cruising essential items that will add to this

On top of that, you have the optionals that for many circumnavigators are must-haves. Just to give you an idea of the kind of features we're talking about, consider things like wind vane, an electricity-free autopilot, hydro generator and solar panels, good downwind sails, a watermaker, satphone, AIS… this sort of stuff, all of which can easily go up to $10,000 - $20,000.

We have a full equipment list of essential cruising gear , which you can read here.

Survey will cost $1,000

Many won't agree that boat surveys are necessary, but I feel that if you are getting a boat ready for circumnavigation, it is certainly worth it. So unless your boat is new or unless you yourself are a seasoned expert, consider getting your boat surveyed.

This will set you back some $20 - $30 per foot, so around $1,000 for an average boat. If that feels like money wasted, see it as walking into a used car lot with a mechanic by your side. He'll be able to spot various deficiencies that the seller would either choose to hide or not know about themselves - which is a great argument for knocking the buying price down. So in the end, a surveyor might make you money.

The second part of answering how much it costs to sail around the world is about the category of recurring costs. Things like insurance, food, fuel, clothing, all that jazz.

The reason this is divided into months is that the overall duration of your circumnavigation trip is up to you. If speed is what you are looking for, you can theoretically do it in about three months. If enjoyment and stopping at pretty places is your goal, then there is no limit to how long it will take you. Most people who do it with the latter in mind take between one and two years.

Of course, you can't know ahead of time how much time you will take, but you can have an idea. So decide and multiply the monthly costs below by the desired number of months.

Food will cost $200 per month

On average, expect to spend around $200 on food per month. This figure is to be expected if you eat out scarcely and pay some attention to how you shop - meaning if you find yourself in a region that charges silly amounts for specific food because of import taxes or whatnot, you won't buy it.

Should the funds need redirecting in a different way, this expense is quite easily diminishable. It can get to $50 per month if you go on the poor man's rice & beans diet and even less if you combine that with some fishing. In the other direction, it can also go to thousands if you wish it to.

But overall, without any extreme frugality but with mindfulness about your spendings, the $200 per month amount is the most realistic (and among sailors quite usual) sum.

It pays off to plan a bit when it comes to provisioning. When sailors undergo the classical Azores to Caribbean route during an Atlantic crossing, those who think a few steps ahead arrive at the destination with their food cabinets well-stocked. Food in the Caribbean is comparatively very expensive. The same can be said for French Polynesia, while the food in Southeast Asia tends to be cheap.

The moral of the story is that if you want to keep your food spendings down, aside from the obvious limiting of eating out, you should do a bit of research about whatever your next stop is likely to be and stock up if the local prices are high.

Boat maintenance will cost $200 - $650 per month

Boat maintenance is likely going to be among the largest, if not the largest item on your budget list. The total sum depends very much on what boat you bought in what condition, but if you go by the widely held estimate that with older boats, every year you will spend about fifteen percent of the boat's price on maintaining it, you get an approximate idea.

So for the aforementioned hypothetical $50,000 boat, its monthly upkeep price would be around $650. But it is important to mention that if you get a boat in great condition, the maintenance can very, very easily be a third of that, if not less.

And vice versa. That being said, even a brand new boat will need money to be put in her maintenance, so even if you are getting one straight from the shipyard, don't scratch the maintenance category off your budget.

Just as with food, there are ways to save money here. Firstly, a sizable part of the maintenance costs is labor, which you can do yourself if you have the skills and the know-how.

Second, it pays off to prepare the boat well before you set sail, even if it means replacing parts that still have some mileage in them. It is generally more expensive to buy spare parts and do repairs on the road, where you can't choose as much, have to have them delivered, and may be pressed for time - as opposed to having the time to do proper research and hunt for good deals.

But there are expenses that you just can't avoid and can't do yourself, such as hauling the boat out of the water every year or two for inspection, antifouling, and some possible repairs. While the boat is out, you'll have to live somewhere, which is yet another expense that is hard to avoid.

And last but not least, the maintenance costs don't come in nice monthly installments, but rather pennies here and there and then a larger expense at once. So the above monthly cost works only if taken as a monthly average over say a year or more.

Data and communication solutions will cost $100 per month

A long-range (SSB) radio can easily cost you around $6,000 to set up. It will come recommended by many, whether you actually need it is the question.

Personally, I'd instead go for a good satellite phone (Iridium GO seems to be a popular choice) paired with a good satellite phone plan. A basic one will set you back some $100 monthly. Although it is an internet connection, know that this is for some simple messaging, weather files, and such. A device capable of connection allowing proper browsing can cost north of $4,000 and thousands of dollars monthly for a plan.

Based on how you travel, you might find it the easiest to take advantage of local data providers when you are close to shore. That requires buying a sim card and setting up some sort of a plan or a prepaid deal, but buck for buck, this will be among the most effective solutions.

Insurance will cost you $0 - $200 per month

Ah, the divisive one. Many sailors out there don't believe in insurance and if you belong among them, you can skip this part as this category will amount to a nice round $0.

If you do want to get insured, expect this to be among the top regular expenses.

The cost here again depends on the kind of boat you have and the insurance plan you go for. But to stick with our hypothetical model of a $50,000 used sailboat, your insurance might cost somewhere around $200 monthly.

But if you sail a hundred-foot catamaran from Sunreef, you will pay that $200 every three hours or so.

As for the ways of saving money on this: you will have to get a pretty solid plan since circumnavigation dangers are certainly pricier to cover than coastal cruising. So not much to save there.

But comparing offers can save you quite a bit. Websites like InsuraMatch and similar can help you do the research to make sure you aren't paying premium money for non-premium insurance.

Your experience and courses will come into play here, the more experienced you are, the less you will have to pay.

The state your boat's safety equipment is in makes a difference too. The insurers might want to take a look at the state of your bilge pumps, fire extinguishers, high water alarms, and so on. Having an EPIRB can mean a significant deduction from what you'll have to pay.

A final thought regarding this - for those who don't like the idea of insurance, be aware that in many corners of the world it is becoming a requirement to have it if you want to enter. A third party liability of some sort will usually do.

Fuel will cost $100 per month

If you are so enthusiastic about sailing that you want to sail around the world, I will assume you are not the type to motor whenever the speed isn't up to your liking. As such, your monthly fuel bill won't likely exceed $100.

You can easily half this sum if you don't use the dinghy engine unless you must and don't mind getting to your destination a few days later than originally planned.

Administration fees will cost $100 - $300 per month

This category is among the most variable ones. On average, expect to pay from $100 to $300 per month. Why the wide spread?

Because the cost really depends on where you sail through. If you stick to international waters and circle the globe without stopping on shore, you won't pay anything. If on the other hand, you go through the most expensive locations, you can easily end up paying thousands of dollars overall.

As an example - going through the Panama canal will cost you anywhere from $800 for boats under 50 feet, to $3,200 for over 100 footers (plus around $300 for various permits, etc.). Going around Cape Horn is free. Similarly, I've read that checking in Ecuador is supposedly a $1,000 expense while doing the same in New Zealand is a matter of just a few dollars. And a cruising permit in Myanmar is supposedly so expensive that it isn't worth it for many.

Fortunately, all of these costs are transparent and easily researchable beforehand. So if you want to make sure you don't pay more than necessary, spend some time online to see the prices.

Dockings & moorings will cost $200 per month

As you probably have guessed, this category has quite a lot of variability to it too. On average, you should expect to pay around $200 per month for docking or moorings.

However, this means you will be at anchor when you can and will stay out of expensive marinas. If you do, the above sum is a realistic expectation. If you don't, as usual, the sky's the limit. In marinas, paying $0.5 per foot is quite common (double that for catamarans). Mooring fees can be around $10 per night. However, each country differs.

All in all, here it pays off to use any platform available to search for good anchorages and prices. Oftentimes, a difference between an expensive marina and a free anchorage can be half an hour of sailing. So when you are choosing your boat equipment, do spend money on a high-quality anchor.

Inland exploring will cost $200 per month

To add to all the previous ambiguity, I won't specify this category's expenses at all. Simply because how much (or whether) you will want to explore the land is entirely up to anybody.

But the truth is that even the most sea-loving circumnavigators go around the world to explore it on and off the boat, which means a taxi ride here and there, entrance fees to some places, train tickets, maybe accommodation for a few nights on land, generally whatever people do.

So although there is no way for me to predict how much this will cost you, know that it is an expense category that should be counted in. I'll throw the sum of $200 monthly out there, just because that seems to be the average among sailors, but take that as a rough estimate only.

Flying home will cost $85 per month

And last but not least - the oftentimes forgotten category of getting home expenses. You never know what might happen, a family member's wedding, an emergency you gotta oversee personally, or anything else, that calls for your presence means you'll have to get somewhere else in the world than where you will at that time be.

A good rule is to have some $1,000 per year saved somewhere for these occasions. Who knows, maybe you'll have to fly around the world, which means a plane ticket, plus expenses for docking your boat somewhere until you return and resume your adventure.

Fortunately, most of the expenses you will have during the course of your sailing can be predicted with quite a lot of certainty, so if you are well prepared, it's not like you have to plan for spending twice as much as your calculations. The margin of error isn't huge here.

But when after reading this article you arrived at a number, do have some space. Getting oneself to do a journey like this is tricky for many, it'd be a shame if you had to cut it short.

If any of the above costs scare you or mean you wouldn't be able to make this thing happen, there are always ways to get around for little or no expenses.

The idea is to find a boat that goes from A to B, A being where you are, B being where you want to be. Such circumnavigation probably won't happen in one go and you might have to hitch multiple rides for various parts of your journey, but it's possible.

Social media groups dedicated to finding crew and sailboats, chatting up people from local sailing clubs, asking around the marinas… a bit of googling will get you a long way too.

You will have to pitch in with skills, whether those be sailing or cooking or cleaning ones - or anything else. Some skippers will ask you for a monetary involvement too, but even in that case, overall you will get to a much lower price than the sum of the above.

And if you have enough experience, you might even find a deal where you get paid.

The main message should be that circumnavigation is possible, and attainable for most. It's one of those adventures you will never forget and once done, it will serve as a hell of a story to tell.

You may also like, how to live on a boat for free: how i'd do it.

Living on a boat with no cost of living. Yes, a dream - but is it just that? In this article, I'll list what you'd need to do in order to make it work.

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11 Around-The-World Cruises For An Epic Getaway

"Sailing around the world" sounds so romantic, doesn't it? You're sailing to remote islands with like-minded people while chasing sunsets on a distant horizon. Sure, you can just board a plane to, say, New Zealand, but there's something so pure and patient about maritime journeys. Cruises are like floating resorts, which ease their way over the waves. It's the definition of "slow travel."

Amazingly, in the modern world of jet-setting travel, round-the-world cruises do exist. Voyagers visit dozens of ports over the course of their odyssey, each with its own landscape, climate, and personality. There are lots of ways travelers can experience "the trip of a lifetime," but this kind of circumnavigation outmatches just about all of them -- and in style. However, there are a few things to consider before investigating such cruises. First, what does it actually mean to sail "around the world?"

Many companies use this phrase — and sail thousands of nautical miles — but only around a single ocean or hemisphere. Even when ships do sail a distance equivalent to the equator (or more), they rarely return to their precise port of origin. Also, these epic cruise vacations can be pricey ; the kind of dream that merits cashing in a 401K, and the time commitment is also substantial, meaning months on the water. But for diehard cruisers, crisscrossing the planet could easily be worth the time and money, and if this sounds like you, these 11 cruise lines are scheduled to sail around the world.

Read more: The Prettiest Waters Around The World

Viking: World Cruise

For 138 days, passengers frog-hop through the Caribbean, pass through the Panama Canal, make their way to the islands of Polynesia, and skirt Australia, Asia, and Europe before finally dropping their anchor in London. On Viking's World Cruise, you can step ashore in 28 different nations and pick from 57 guided tours. Viking has been a prolific, respected cruise line since its founding in 1997, and this three-quarter circumnavigation sets sail in December 2024, so there's still time to book.

Ships are equipped with spas, luxury dining options, and cabin beds that can be separated or combined, among many other touches. Long before stepping aboard, the Viking website has a virtual 360-degree tour, acquainting future travelers with the ship's staterooms. Viking has thoughtfully put together a reading list to help travelers get a deeper understanding of the countries they will visit, which is especially helpful in little-understood destinations like Moorea and Indonesia. The ship also has a sizable library onboard for further research. This, plus its sophisticated tours and dining options that reflect the culture of each port, may explain Viking's moniker, "the thinking person's cruise." Quality does come at a price, with full passage starting at $59,995.

Ambassador: Grand Round The World Cruise

The Ambiance sets off from London, crosses the Atlantic, passes through Panama, and hits Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America before pinging back to the United Kingdom. Not only do you cross all the major oceans, but you actually cross the Atlantic three times. Most of these destinations are warm-weather ports, including Sydney at the height of summer. Sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats are recommended on this largely equatorial route.

Ambassador is new to the cruise scene, having been established in the United Kingdom in 2021, and Ambiance is its flagship vessel. Passengers will spend their 120-night voyage in extreme comfort, traveling to 24 countries and 34 ports of call, with top-notch dining, live entertainment, and about 35,000 nautical miles in between. If you can live without a porthole, opting for an inside cabin on the cruise , then passage starts at the budget-friendly price of $8,500 per person, making this Ambassador cruise one of the most economical on this list. You can also add on drink packages and arrange tours in advance or onboard through an agent or the Ambassador app. You can also explore the ship before you travel, thanks to a 360-degree virtual tour. The 2024 voyage sets sail on June 6.

Regent: World Cruise

The 2026 Regent World Cruise starts in Miami and ends in Miami, which makes it convenient to coordinate, especially if you're already based in the United States. Regent Seven Seas Cruises was founded in 1992 and is a respected brand in the industry.

The ship, the Seven Seas Mariner, also lives up to its name with a formidable 154-night itinerary: the Panama Canal, points along Central America, a dozen Pacific islands, Australia, South Asia, East Africa, and two Atlantic islands before returning to Florida. The Mariner arrives in many well-trod ports like Cape Town and Acapulco, but the route also includes locations that most travelers would have trouble pinpointing on a map: Lautoka, Abidjan, and Male are all names cruisers will become familiar with. To really explore these places, Regent organizes a whopping 431 free shore excursions across six continents, 77 ports, and 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Sailing nearly 40,000 nautical miles with world-class spas, dining, and entertainment aboard doesn't come cheap. While you'll need to contact Regent to request specific prices, passengers can expect to pay nearly $100,000 for passage. Regent's World Cruise is considered a luxury-level experience with first-class airfare, gratuities, and 24-hour room service included. If this is your tax bracket, just wait until you see the suites.

Royal Caribbean: Ultimate World Cruise

Royal Caribbean has been taking tourists to far-flung destinations since the late 1960s, and it's now one of the most recognizable cruise companies in the world, so naturally Royal Caribbean would host a round-the-world voyage. But even for seasoned travelers, the Ultimate World Cruise is pretty, well, ultimate. Royal Caribbean's world cruise lasts 274 nights and arrives in no fewer than 60 countries. In other words, you'll spend nine months at sea and personally visit more than a quarter of the sovereign nations on Earth. The saga starts and ends in Miami, where the Royal Caribbean is headquartered, which should make arrangements easy.

The biggest bragging right of all: This cruise touches on every single continent, including Elephant Island and Paradise Bay in Antarctica. You'll find yourself in both Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, plus ports you've never even heard of. That said, unless your soul is fueled by pure wanderlust, this itinerary may sound like a lot of cruising, which may explain why Royal Caribbean has divided the journey into four segments. Cruisers don't have to commit to the entire itinerary; they can easily pick from the quarter that most interests them.

By the time you read this, a segment may be the only option left, as the next Ultimate World Cruise departs in December of 2023. The segments are significantly more affordable as well. An interior stateroom for the full cruise costs at least $60,000 per person, while a segment starts at $12,500.

Cunard: Full World Voyage

When the Queen Mary 2 departs from New York City on January 3, 2024, it won't return to this same harbor for 123 nights. The itinerary isn't exactly "around the world," but rather a crossing of the Eastern Hemisphere — twice. Passengers traverse the Atlantic to the United Kingdom, then ease their way down the eastern coast of Africa before beelining for Australia. The ship boomerangs back, with many stops in Asia, a shortcut through the Suez Canal, and a tour of the Mediterranean before heading back to the U.S.

The voyage comes at the heels of Cunard's 100th anniversary, making it the second-oldest company on the list. The Queen Mary 2 has been Cunard's flagship vessel since 2004, and the company has mastered hospitality over the past century, with exceptional dining, luxury suites, and Broadway-quality performances by the Royal Court Theatre. Cunard also takes pride in its children's facilities, encouraging families to travel together, as well as the great English tradition of afternoon tea. Most of the budget cabins on the Queen Mary 2 were already booked at the time of this writing, but cabins with balconies are still available, starting at the not-ludicrous price of $16,899 per person.

Oceania: Around The World In 180 Days

When Junes Verne wrote his novel "Around the World in Eighty Days," his Victorian goal was to travel as quickly as possible. Oceania is now advertising the opposite: This journey takes passengers the long way from Los Angeles to New York City, across the Pacific, around Australia, along the coasts of East Asia, and then up through the Middle East, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and even Greenland. The itinerary doesn't spend much time in the "global south," so you'll have to visit Africa and South America another time.

The Miami-based Oceania was founded in 2002 and specializes in long-haul cruises, so they know their system well. This cruise may be especially appealing to foodies. The company takes particular pride in its onboard meals as well as in-country Culinary Discovery Tours. Passengers can also take advantage of The Aquamar Spa & Vitality Center, which can orchestrate a special dietary regimen.

Oceania exudes "small-ship luxury" and caps its total number of passengers at 1,250. Everything about the ship is more intimate than found on its larger cousins, from the live entertainment to the duty-free boutiques. If you like a small-town feel, 180 days should be just enough time to meet all your shipmates. If you can't summon the time or (at least) $47,599 by January 2024, the next ship departs in January 2025.

Princess: 111-Day World Cruise

This Princess cruise is another true circumnavigation, starting in Los Angeles and bearing west until the ship arrives back at its original dock. The 111-day cruise starts on January 18, 2024, and includes all three major oceans, both the Suez and Panama Canals, plus 47 ports along the way. The itinerary is light on Asian and African ports and skips South America altogether, but you can still enjoy visits to Australia, the Middle East, and numerous destinations around Europe.

Princess is a hallowed name in the cruise industry. Not only have its ships been sailing the world since the 1960s, but Princess is still one of the most profitable cruise companies in the world. Passengers can expect onboard enrichment programs, award-winning live performances, and rejuvenating treatments at the Lotus Spa. Each port will also bring its own offerings of special excursions, from river rafting to art tours.

With its dependable quality of service and nearly four-month itinerary, it's remarkable that base bookings start at only $15,498. Better yet, if you want to circle the globe with the whole family, this Princess itinerary is a family-friendly cruise and offers youth programming, which is not always the case. If you miss this one, no worries. Three more, of varying lengths, are slated for January 2025.

Holland America Line: Grand World Voyage

Fort Lauderdale is the beginning and end point for the Zuiderdam, which spends 128 days making a complete circle around the globe. Holland America's Grand World Voyage is true to its name. Passengers travel across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, making port on five continents. Most of its destinations are clustered around Asia and the Mediterranean, and it skips over Australia. But the Voyage is a rare opportunity to sail up the Amazon River, with visits to inland Brazilian cities most travelers would never think to visit.

Holland America began as a shipping and passenger line in the mid-19th Century, and its history of cruising is nearly as old as the concept. The flagship Zuiderdam is a luxury vessel with a swimming pool and sizable theater. It also boasts several diverse dining areas, including the Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, the Italian-themed Canaletto, and the à la carte Lido Market. There's Billboard Onboard, a special room for trivia nights and karaoke, as well as World Stage, a presentation space with a wraparound LED screen. Bookings start at the more expensive rate of $22,499 for an inside cabin, and the 2024 voyage will set sail on January 3, 2024, but you can expect additional Grand World Voyages to be slated in the coming years.

Azamara: World Voyage

Formerly part of the Royal Caribbean fleet, Azamara is now an independent company taking its own journeys. The 2025 World Voyage begins in San Diego and sails westward, across the Pacific, to Australia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, before passengers disembark in Barcelona. The World Voyage doesn't quite girdle the globe, stopping just short of the Atlantic Ocean, and the only stop in Africa is Giza. But this 155-night expedition should satisfy almost any traveler, especially with its 40 countries and 22 overnights.

Unlike many world cruises, Azamara has divided its full itinerary into segments with clear geographic themes, such as "South Pacific Jewels" and "Mediterranean Icons." These titles can help turn experiences into coherent narratives. For example, "Ancient Pathways" draws a historic and economic line between Mumbai and Athens, along with all ports in between. These themes are coupled with thoughtful excursions, which are often scheduled around local holidays and festivals. The World Voyage for 2024 appears to be sold out, but the 2025 edition sets sail on January 5. Passage starts at a princely $39,999.

Freighter Cruises

Some of us want to keep it simple. No need for late-night show-stoppers, cocktail parties with hundreds of strangers, or daring bets at the roulette wheel. "Freighter cruises" have gone by many names over the years, such as "banana boats" and "cargo cruises," but passengers have hitched rides on commercial ships since the dawn of seafaring. These accommodations come in many forms, and you do have to share your vessel with stacks of massive shipping containers; still, you can expect a comfortable cabin and regular meals, along with friendly and respectful crewmembers from around the world. For travelers with a Jack London streak, the freighter cruise feels raw and adventurous.

The Freighter Travel Club was founded in 1958, and companies like Maris Freighter Cruises and Voyage en Cargo have booked passengers on commercial vessels for years. Maris has arranged round-the-world itineraries in the past, and multi-week journeys are common, as enormous loads are floated from one nation to the next. The pandemic took its toll on this niche industry, and most of these journeys do not precisely travel around the world. But when they're in operation, freighter cruises usually cost a little over $100 per day, and savvy travelers have flexibility in their bookings.

Miray Cruises: Life At Sea

Sure, cruising is fun, but what if you want to turn your ship into a semi-permanent address? Life at Sea Cruises promises three years of luxury seafaring, with stops in 140 countries across all seven continents. By the time you're done with these 382 ports, you'll have more photos to sort through and stories to share than most people will amass in a lifetime.

That sounds life-changing, but we'll have to see whether it's too good to be true. Life at Sea is a brand-new enterprise from Miray Cruises, and the maiden voyage has been fraught with delays. However, at the time of this writing, Life at Sea should get underway by the end of 2023, and most full-voyage passengers should already be sailing by 2024. If all goes well, there are four scheduled embarkation options for travelers who want to hop aboard later on, and more will likely be scheduled.

One of the problems has been the ship itself. For a while, the purchase of the ship was in limbo, pushing back the original sail date. However, the MV Lara now seems ready to sail. The medium-sized vessel has space for 1,266 passengers, with a range of cozy cabins, a wellness center, and a pool deck, among many other amenities. Travelers committed to living at sea for three years should get a lot out of their floating home. Life at Sea is a dreamy concept, so let's hope for calm waters once it finally sets sail.

Read the original article on Explore .

Channel migrant dinghy in which five people died packed with people carrying weapons and fighting - survivor

Eighteen-year-old Heivin was among the survivors when five migrants died during an attempt to cross the English Channel in a small boat.

Europe correspondent @adamparsons

Friday 26 April 2024 09:33, UK

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The migrant dinghy in which five people died was chaotic, overloaded and packed with people carrying weapons and fighting, according to one of the passengers who was on board, speaking exclusively to Sky News.

Heivin, 18, confirmed the boat was stormed by a rival group of migrants, armed with sticks and knives, as it was preparing to set off.

She said: "People were fighting, people were getting stepped on, they were dying and being thrown off."

She said she fell into the water but was pulled out by another person on the boat. Two other passengers who fell into the water, including a young girl, drowned. Three other people died on the boat.

Heivin said she "really hated" the group of people who hijacked their boat, insisting they should take the blame for what happened.

"They caused a huge tragedy," she said.

Hijacked small boat leads to five dead in Channel

"It was because of them that people died.

"If they hadn't come and started fighting, none of this would have happened."

Read more: Arrests after deaths of five people who tried to cross Channel Migrants explain why they won't be deterred by Rwanda bill

The tragedy happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the waters off the French coastal town of Wimereux.

The boat, which launched with 112 people on board, stopped on a sandbar only a few hundred metres from the shore.

By the time emergency services arrived, it was clear people had died, both on the boat and in the water.

Two men have been charged with immigration offences in connection with the investigation into the deaths of the five migrants.

"I fell into the water but a man helped me up," Heivin said.

"Everyone was climbing aboard and there were too many people - over 110 of us.

"I had tried to be at the front, but after I fell in the water I sat on the edge of the boat and didn't go towards the other end - that's where people were fighting.

"I thank God that I didn't get into the top part of the dinghy. I would have suffocated. I thank God for that every day."

She said her group, comprising between 50 and 60 people, had arrived at the beach in Wimereux after following the instructions of the people smugglers who had taken their money in exchange for arranging a passage to Britain.

Hidden away, they had waited for the smugglers to prepare the dinghy. She then saw police officers and was told simply to run towards the water.

At that point, the rival group emerged as well, clambering into the boat along with the people who had paid the smugglers.

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Heivin said she saw migrants from this group carrying sticks and knives, squaring up to both the police and the original passengers.

When the boat set off, exceptionally overladen, it meandered towards the Channel, but there was still fighting and it is clear that some people were being crushed.

"I was aware there was a fight," Heivin said.

"They were shouting that people were stuck underneath other people, that they couldn't get out, that some were falling under people's feet."

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Heivin has spent seven months travelling across Europe since leaving Iraq. She said she wanted to get to Britain because "it is a better country for me, definitely in terms of the language but also, in many other other ways, it is better than the rest of Europe".

She's made 30 attempts to cross the Channel, but has failed each time. Sometimes it has been the French police who have destroyed boats while other times the boat on which she was travelling broke down. One time, the boat failed only an hour from British waters.

She is undeterred by the trauma that she underwent, however, and she intends to try again to reach Britain as soon as possible. "Perhaps this weekend," she said.

Five people die in attempt to cross Channel in small boat from France

Three men, a woman and a child reported dead with vessel said to have been carrying more than 110 people

Five people, including a child, have died in an attempt to cross the Channel in a small boat near the town of Wimereux, south of Calais, French authorities say.

More than 110 people were said to have been on board the vessel when it left at 5am near the Plage des Allemands.

The Calais prefect, Jacques Billant, told the Guardian that despite the deaths, 57 people had continued their journey to Britain once the boat’s motor had been restarted.

A provisional assessment reported five deaths, of three men, a woman, and a child reportedly aged between four and seven, and one person slightly injured.

Billant said a rescue operation had been dispatched quickly to the boat in difficulty, and rescuers saw six people “in great difficulty” or inanimate on the boat. They were immediately rescued and taken to shore for treatment by emergency services but “despite attempts to reanimate them, five of them died”, he said.

A further 47 people were rescued from the vessel and were helped by police, emergency services and doctors in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Four were admitted to hospital for treatment.

Billant said that “despite this complex and delicate situation”, 57 people on the dinghy did not want to leave the boat. They managed to get the motor running and continued to Britain, under the surveillance of French authorities.

The French association Osmose 62, which helps asylum seekers and refugees in northern France, was present in Wimereux. Dany Patoux, a volunteer, told France 3 regional television that he had been there when some of the people on the failed crossing made it back to shore.

He said he had seen the father of the child who died. “We knew the little girl well. We have photos with her, where she has a big smile in the hope of a better life. But now it’s all ruined. Her father fell into our arms just now. He is in tears, he is in a terrible state. He saw his daughter die before his eyes.”

The deaths come hours after Rishi Sunak’s government passed legislation to allow it to deport asylum seekers who arrive in the UK on small boats to Rwanda. Sunak said the “tragic” reports of deaths in the Channel showed why the Rwanda plan was needed.

“It’s just a reminder of why my plan is so important because there’s a certain element of compassion about everything that we’re doing,” he told reporters. “We want to prevent people making these very dangerous crossings. If you look at what’s happening, criminal gangs are exploiting vulnerable people.

“They are packing more and more people into these unseaworthy dinghies; you’ve seen an enormous increase in the numbers over the past few years. This is what tragically happens when they push people out to sea and that’s why, for matters of compassion more than anything else, we must actually break this business model.”

More than 6,000 people have made the journey so far this year – an increase of about a quarter on the same period last year.

Matthew Rycroft, the most senior civil servant in the Home Office, who has overseen the Rwanda scheme for two years, previously told MPs he did not have evidence to show it would have a deterrent effect that would make it value for money.

The deal will cost £1.8m for each of the first 300 deportees, the National Audit Office has confirmed.

The Channel is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and currents are strong, making the crossing on small boats dangerous. People smugglers typically overload rickety dinghies, often leaving them barely afloat as they try to reach British shores.

The Refugee Council in the UK described the deaths as “devastating” and “all the more tragic” coming just hours after the Rwanda bill was passed.

Enver Solomon, the council’s chief executive, said: “It is shocking to learn of the terrible loss of yet more lives in the Channel this morning. Our thoughts go out to the families and loved ones of those affected. This is another devastating human tragedy that could and should have been avoided, and for it to happen just hours after the government’s Rwanda bill became law makes it all the more tragic.

“The only sustainable way to reduce dangerous journeys … is for the government to reduce the need for desperate people to take desperate actions. Instead of hostile, headline-grabbing legislation, we need to see safe routes for those fleeing conflict and persecution, including more options for family reunion, refugee visas, and cooperation with our European neighbours.”

Immigration and asylum

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IMAGES

New Record for Non-Stop Circumnavigation in Smallest Boat
Polish skipper Szymon Kuczynski sets world record by circumnavigating
500 days by Serge Testa
Australis
New World Record: UK-based man to sail 3,000 km solo across Atlantic in
Record attempt for Atlantic crossing in smallest boat ever ends in

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COMMENTS

Szymon Kuczynski Solo and Non-Stop around the World
8,657 1 minute read. Szymon Kuczynski secured a new world record for the smallest yacht to circumnavigate the globe singlehanded and unaided, when he returned to Mayflower Marina in Plymouth on Thursday 17th May. Szymon, who set sail last year from Plymouth on August 19, completed the circumnavigation in 270 days, 10 hours and 29 minute.
5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world
Vancouver 28. Photo credit: YachtFathom.co.uk. A sensible small boat with a "go-anywhere" attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package. Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder.
The Cheapest, Smallest Boat to Sail Around the World
The most appropriate small and cheap boat to sail around the world is the Hurley 22. At around $3,000 it is a lot of boat for the money. Fully equipped as a liveaboard for a couple, it is seaworthy enough to cross oceans. It is time-tested and has many very happy owners.
Around the World Solo in a 21-Footer
That's a new world record for the smallest yacht to circumnavigate the globe non-stop with no engine. For perspective, less than 300 people are known to have sailed single-handed around the world — only 80 have done so without stopovers or assistance. The sailboat, a Maxus 22, was manufactured in the Northman shipyard in Poland.
10 Best Sailboats For Circumnavigation
10 Best Sailboats for Circumnavigation. 1. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54DS. sunrise_sail. Starting off our list with one of the strongest contenders, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54DS certainly ticks the luxury box. What's impressive is just how visually striking and spacious the 54DS is.
Skippering The Smallest Boat Around the World
At 74 years old, Sven Yrvind wants to save the world. When I ask him how he plans to do it, his answer is simple: circumnavigate in a ten-foot sailboat. If—or rather, according to Sven, when —he accomplishes this, he will have skippered the smallest boat to circle the world. "I want to show people that we can live in a small space and ...
The old man and the sea: 73-year-old to sail solo around world in ...
The 73-year-old said Yrvind could complete the voyage, adding that many people had thought his own bid to circumnavigate the globe was impossible at the time. Sven Yrvind with his half-constructed ...
Polish skipper Szymon Kuczynski sets world record by ...
Szymon Kuczynski secured a new world record for the smallest yacht to circumnavigate the globe singlehanded and unaided, when he returned to Mayflower Marina in Plymouth, today (Thursday 17th May) TAGS: Australia Plymouth sailing world record. Szymon Kuczynski originally set sail from Britain's Ocean City of Plymouth on August 19th 2017. The ...
Around the world in a 5-metre boat >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News
While no official record is maintained for the feat, the smallest yacht to previously circumnavigate the globe is understood to be Poland's Szymon Kuczynski who completed the course in a 6.36 ...
A new world record: on a 6.3 m boat around the globe
Polish yachtsman Szymon Kuczynski has set a world record for a solo circumnavigation of the globe in the smallest yacht, accomplishing the journey without stopping or assistance. The 37-year-old Pole left the British city of Plymouth on August 19, 2017 and, after sailing nearly 29,000 nautical miles, returned to his starting point last Thursday. He spent 270 days,10 hours and 29 minutes aboard ...
Serge Testa
Serge Testa is an Australian yachtsman who holds the world record for the circumnavigation in the smallest boat, completing the voyage in 1987. His 11-foot-10-inch (3.61 m) boat, the Acrohc Australis, was designed so that all controls could be operated from inside enabling him to close the hatch in foul weather. [1] The boat is currently on ...
Class Globe 5.80
The first small yacht to circumnavigate the world. In 1953, John Guzzwell, while working as a maintenance carpenter for the Canadian Pacific Railway Ferry Service in Victoria, decided to build himself a sailing boat. The English naval architect Laurent Giles planned a 20' 6' yawl for 50 pounds sterling, which John built, mostly unaided and ...
Everything You Need to Sail Around the World (by an expert)
Let's get this out of the way first - you don't need a large boat to circumnavigate the world. Larger boats are comfier and faster, but technically not necessary. The smallest sailboat to circle the globe had around 21 feet. We have written many times about small boats that are great liveaboards, so it is possible.
Laura Dekker
Dekker's solo circumnavigation route. Laura Dekker (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈlʌuraː ˈdɛkər]; born 20 September 1995) is a New Zealand-born Dutch sailor.In 2009, she announced her plan to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed.A Dutch court stepped in, owing to the objections of the local authorities, and prevented Laura from departing while under shared ...
Best Small Sailboats To Sail Around The World
Some might consider 30-35ft too small for bluewater cruising or for a circumnavigation (sail around the world), but that has been disproved over the years. ... A small sailboat should be more than enough to carry a couple off on the adventures of which they dream. Nicholson 35. Now somewhat legendary, the tough and dependable Nicholson 35 first ...
World Circumnavigation Routes for Sailboats
Year 3: French Polynesia to Fiji, store in Fiji. Year 4: Fiji to Australia, store in Australia. Year 5: Australia to South Africa, store in SA. Year 6: SA to the Caribbean. Of course, you'd see a lot less than you would on a 6-year circumnavigation like ours, but you get it done in a fraction of the cost and less risk.
Cruising: Solo Circumnavigators
There seems to be no age limit for solo-circumnavigators. Not so long ago we had Californian Jeff Hartjoy set a record for the oldest American to sail around the globe solo, nonstop and unassisted, at the age of 70. A few months ago, 77-year-old Briton Jeanne Socrates became the oldest person to achieve the same feat of skill and endurance ...
7 Best-Known Routes for Sailing Around the World (with Maps)
The Fast Route - for the minimum time. The Pleasure Route - for the maximal pleasure. The Traditional Route - the road most taken. The Arctic Route - for the rough ones. The Dangerous Route - without regards for piracy. The Cheap Route - with a budget in mind. The Coast Lover's Route - never going far from the coast.
Joshua Slocum and his first Single-handed Sail around the World
On June 27, 1898, the first solo circumnavigation of the globe is completed by Joshua Slocum from Brier Island, Nova Scotia.After more than three years, Slocum returned in his gaff rigged sloop oyster boat named Spray having circumnavigated the world, a distance of more than 74,000 km. The event was almost unnoticed because the Spanish-American War, which had begun two months earlier ...
Sailing Around The World
There's something about sailing around the world that captures the imagination and inspires. For some, it's the reason for learning to sail in the first place. Others only start to think about global circumnavigation as their skills and experience grow. Regardless of what motivates you to circumnavigate, one thing remains true.
Smallest wind-powered boat to circumnavigate the globe
The smallest wind-powered boat to circumnavigate the globe is Acrohc Australis, which measured 3.60 m (11 ft 9 in) and was captained by Serge Testa (Australia), from 9 June 1984 to 16 May 1987.. Testa's journey started and ended in Brisbane, Australia, via the Panama canal. The self-designed boat was structured so that all controls could be operated from inside, allowing the captain to close ...
List of circumnavigations
Marvin Creamer; 21 December 1982 - 17 May 1984; only known person to circumnavigate the globe by boat with no nautical aids; Bertie Reed - 1982 ... Serge Testa; 1987; an Australian yachtsman who holds the world record for the circumnavigation in the smallest boat, completing the voyage in 1987, in his 11-foot-10-inch (3.61 m) ...
The Cost of Sailing Around the World: I've Done It
The smallest and cheapest sailboat for circumnavigation. The cheapest seaworthy boat you can get is Hurley 22, which can be yours for $3,000 - and I'm not talking about a fixer-upper project, but a boat that, for this price, can be ready to sail. Here is our article where we praise this little fella. A larger boat might be better
11 Around-The-World Cruises For An Epic Getaway
Viking has been a prolific, respected cruise line since its founding in 1997, and this three-quarter circumnavigation sets sail in December 2024, so there's still time to book.
Channel migrant dinghy in which five people died packed with people
The boat, which launched with 112 people on board, stopped on a sandbar only a few hundred metres from the shore. By the time emergency services arrived, it was clear people had died, both on the ...
Five people die in attempt to cross Channel in small boat from France
Three men, a woman and a child reported dead with vessel said to have been carrying more than 110 people Five people, including a child, have died in an attempt to cross the Channel in a small ...