TODAY IN HISTORY: First Solo Circumnavigation (June 27, 1898)
Sloop sailing on the water
Posted June 27, 2015
On June 27, 1898, the 37-foot sloop Spray sailed into Newport, Rhode Island, marking the completion of a historic voyage. At the helm was Captain Joshua Slocum, who had just become the first person to circumnavigate the globe solo, covering more than 46,000 miles. What made this achievement even more remarkable was the simplicity of Spray, an unassuming fishing boat that Slocum had rebuilt himself.
Slocum’s account of the journey, Sailing Alone Around the World, was published in 1900 and remains a classic of adventure literature. His incredible feat inspired generations of sailors and adventurers alike. Tragically, Slocum disappeared at sea in November 1909 during another voyage to South America aboard Spray, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest navigators in history.
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