The Open Ocean: Part One
Did you know there’s a lot of cool stuff happening on the open ocean RIGHT NOW? You might think that every record must have been broken by now. It would seem like it would be pretty hard in this day and age to think of something new to do on the water. Not so, check this out. I’m gonna to post these in batches so stay tuned for updates.
Right now there’s a 16 year old dude who just set out on a solo around-the-world cruise. His name is Zac Sunderland, and if he can make it back in time, he’ll be the youngest person to ever circumnavigate the globe. You might know about Robin Lee Graham who left Los Angeles in 1965 and made it around the world by himself in a tiny 24′ boat. But that story is so different. Unlike Zac, he wasn’t in such a hurry. He seemed to be more interested in experiencing life on a very extreme level. Along the way he met his wife (who he’s still married to), chilled out in Tahiti, Africa, The Bahamas, and The Galapagos. Robin and his wife Patti even managed to get pregnant along the way. The motion of the ocean! (brown chicken brown cow)Anyway, all that adventure took some time so he didn’t make it back until he was 21. So again, if Zac stays on his schedule he’ll be back before he’s old enough to vote and will take the title of the youngest person to ever sail around the world alone.
Zac has sponsors and a few cameras on board so his story will be captured for a TLC special at a minimum. If you’re interested in reading about Robin’s adventure get The Dove in paperback. I just finished it and, to say the least, it was inspiring. It’s truly hard to compare Robin and Zac as today there’s so much more technology. Zac is calling home everyday and speaking to his mother on a Iridium satellite phone. I’m not saying that Zac isn’t facing danger and that he’s not unusually focused and gifted. I guess I’m just saying that 1965 was—oh hell I don’t know what I’m saying.
Here’s a Youtube Deep Cut™ that shows the original Dove. Look how small that thing is. Can you imagine? No phone. No internet. No satellite weather reports. No GPS. All he had was a sextant and a huge pair of balls.
But that was then and this is now. Zac is out there in the middle of the Pacific. He’s just as sleep deprived as any single handed sailer. It’s just as cold and even though he gets to call home I’m sure he’s a little lonely. Wish him well if you like by checking out his blog. I love the internet!