Recent years have seen a spate of young sailors taking to the waves in an attempt to become the youngest person to complete a solo and unsupported circumnavigation.
There are debates about which journeys were made entirely unsupported and those which were non-stop but below are some of the sailors included in the lists:
This is an edited excerpt from the How To Sail The Seven Seas chapter of my new book: How To Get To The North Pole And Other Iconic Adventures
Both 18, Australians Jesse Martin and David Dicks had only a few weeks’ difference in their age when they finished their journeys around the world in the late 90s. Dicks was slightly younger but deemed to have received help fixing his rig thus not travelled fully unsupported.
In July 2009, Zac Sunderland arrived home at the age of 17 after a one year voyage on a boat he bought for $6,500.
Although her route is not officially recognised, Jessica Watson completed her loop of the globe just three days before her 17th birthday.
Finally, despite attempted intervention by the Dutch government to stop her departing, Dutch sailor Laura Dekker began her own attempt in August 2010. Completing the journey in stages, she needs to finish by September 2012 to claim the record.
The World Sailing Speed Record Council governing body does not recognise record attempts by those under eighteen years old.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Eaton Jr.
How to Get to the North Pole:
and Other Iconic Adventures
Newly published for April 2012
