Englishman James Ketchell is looking to become the first person to circumnavigate the globe on land, in the air, and at sea as he sets off in a sailboat from a harbor in Hampshire.
30,000 miles and 9 months now await Ketchell, who is undertaking the voyage alone.
The British hunger for exploring the world has lasted far beyond the Age of Exploration. Sportsman Ross Edgley is at this very moment looking to become the first person to swim around the entirety of Iceland.
While Edgley heads north, Ketchell will move south to his first stop at the Canary Islands. Opting to “round the Horn” on the return journey, he will pass the Cape of Good Hope, before sailing to Australia, then across the Pacific to Uruguay. Antigua, New York, and his home will beckon by late spring next year.
Ketchell finished his second circumnavigation in 2019 with a gyrocopter, taking 6 months and 122 separate flights. Before that, he circumnavigated the globe on a bicycle in 2013.
This latest expedition is Ketchell’s second attempt via boat, after a malfunction in 2024 ended his first.
With plenty of time, room for more equipment, and low noise pollution, Ketchell is planning to fill in his hours by livestreaming video presentations and talks to classrooms around the world.
Premier Marinas, which sponsored the voyage amongst other partners, said of Ketchell, who trained out of their Hampshire location, that they felt “incredibly proud.”
MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Scientists Use Stones to Build Canoe Like Their Ancestors and Sailed it 140 Miles Across Dangerous Waters
“Our team has worked closely with James to ensure he has everything he needs for a safe and successful circumnavigation,” said manager Jonathan Walcroft.
The first man ever to circumnavigate the world alone in a sailing yacht was Nova Scotia’s Joshua Slocum, setting off in 1892, and returning quite leisurely in 1895.
SHARE This Adventurous Brit’s Third Journey Around The World…