16-Year-Old Solo Sailor Departs Tomorrow

If you’re going to have engine problems, it’s a blessing to have them in your homeport, rather than out in the middle of the Pacific. No one knows this better than 16-year-old Zac Sunderland, who was set to begin a solo circumnavigation two weeks ago, when it was determined that the engine aboard his Islander 36 Intrepid, had "irreparable mechanical failure."

But today, all systems are go for Zac’s much-anticipated departure tomorrow from Marina del Rey. If he is able to stick to his carefully choreographed itinerary, he will return home a hero 11 months from now, having become the youngest solo circumnavigator. That distinction is currently held by Australian Jesse Martin (who, we should note, circled via the great capes, while Zac plans to transit the Panama Canal).

Springing from the family’s efforts to gain sponsorship, reports on Zac’s attempt have appeared in a wide variety of mainstream media, in some cases launching vigorous debates over the wisdom of such a campaign. But Zac, who grew up around the water and has logged thousands of sea miles, feels completely confident, and has his parents full support. Although the boat was only acquired six months ago, it has undergone a thorough refit and is now equipped with a wide range of up-to-date communications and nav gear.

In a few hours, young Zac will leave the TV crews, newspaper reporters and shore-based support team behind and begin to test his mettle in the solitary realm of singlehanded passagemaking — following in the wake of his inspiration, Robin Lee Graham, who left from Southern California in the ’60s aboard Dove. We wish Zac the best of luck on his ambitious feat, and expect to give updates on his progress here and in the pages of Latitude 38. (See the campaign’s website also.)