Joshua Slocum

 

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Nova Scotia born, with family roots in New England, Captain Slocum commanded some of the finest tall ships that ever sailed the seas. On April 24, 1895, at the age of 51, he departed Boston in his tiny sloop Spray and sailed around the world single-handed, a passage of 46,000 miles, returning to Newport, Rhode Island on June 27, 1898. This historic achievement made him the patron saint of small-boat voyagers, navigators and adventurers all over the world. His book, Sailing Alone Around the World, became an instant best seller. It has been translated into many languages, and is still in print today. His vessel Spray, which he rebuilt himself from a derelict hull, has been copied by hundreds of boat builders world-wide. In the fall of 1909, Captain Slocum left on a voyage to South America and was never heard from again.

Joshua Slocum's ' SPRAY: Slocum was the first
man to sail around the world single handed.
He set out from Boston, USA, on 24th April 1895.
He arrived in Newport, Rhode Island at 01.00am
on 27th June 1898 - 3 Years, 2 months and 2
days later - an average of 100 miles per day, not counting stops.

 

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Joshua Slocum's 11.2 meter (36ft 9in) gaff rigged cutter SPRAY, built over the frame of an oyster sloop, and had no modern navigation or sailing aids.

 

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Photograph of the Spray leaving Sydney, sailing up Port Jackson, fitted in the new suit of sails given by Commodore Mark Foy.

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