Fourteen Times a Shellback

Ever since Joshua Slocum became the first person to sail alone around the world in the late 1890s, the challenge of solo circumnavigating has stood as the ultimate challenge for self-sufficient sailors. But few would even consider doing it in a boat smaller than Slocum’s Spray, a 36-footer.

One who has accepted that challenge, however, is five-time (mostly solo) circumnavigator Webb Chiles, now 72. As reported earlier, Webb’s choice of boat for this rounding is the venerable Moore 24, Gannet. As always, Webb has been advancing around the globe with little fanfare since leaving San Diego May 20. But he checked in recently from American Samoa with this report: "I made Hilo, Hawaii from San Diego in 17 days, almost all under only mainsail and 110% jib because my new asymmetrical was not properly made and the head pulled away from the gennaker furling-gear swivel. Then a week later to Honolulu, where I had the sail repaired and running backstays put on Gannet’s semi-custom mast at the suggestion of Buzz Ballenger, after I asked him about sailing the boat under headsail alone.  

"I left Honolulu after two weeks and had a hot and wet sail south to Apia, Samoa, crossing the equator under sail for the 14th time. I remained in Apia for a couple of weeks before sailing to Neiafu, Tonga, which I reached on August 8, after a very hard sail against headwinds that were supposed to decrease, but didn’t."

Such ambitious voyaging is certainly not for everyone. But if anyone is cut out for the challenge, its Webb. Self-sufficient to the core, he doesn’t believe in carrying an EPIRB, reasoning that if he gets into trouble it’s his own fault, and he wouldn’t want anyone to risk his or her life trying to save him. What a guy! Will a book result from this lap around the planet? We certainly hope so.