Zac Sunderland Returns to Marina Del Rey After Solo Circumnavigation

Seventeen-year-old Zac Sunderland sailed back into his hometown of Marina Del Rey, California, after completing a solo circumnavigation that covered 24,568 miles. Sailing his 1972 Islander 36, Intrepid, Sunderland began his voyage in June 2008 and spent roughly 13 months at sea before arriving at about 10 a.m. on July 16 to a warm welcome from friends, family and the media.

“I finally saw my mom and gave her a big hug and then the rest of the family,” Sunderland wrote in an e-mail to Soundings. The young sailor described feeling relieved and grateful to be home after such an intense and formative journey. His trip not only tested his sailing skills and determination but also broadened his view of people, places and his own goals.

Sunderland’s achievement drew comparisons to earlier youthful circumnavigators. Australian Jesse Martin, who completed a solo nonstop circumnavigation at age 18 in 1999, was an ongoing source of inspiration for Sunderland. The American Sailing Association certified Sunderland’s voyage, confirming the completion of his solo route. However, the World Speed Sailing Record Council (WSSRC) did not monitor his passage and therefore did not record it as an official WSSRC world sailing record. John Reed, secretary of the council, noted that while recent reports have called Sunderland the youngest person to sail solo around the world, that designation does not constitute an official WSSRC world record in their view.

Despite certification nuances, Sunderland’s feat captured public attention and sparked conversation about age, ambition and solo sailing. The possibility of the “youngest solo circumnavigator” title remaining contested was also part of the story. British teenager Mike Perham, who is 108 days younger than Sunderland, had departed Portsmouth, England, in an Open 50 around the same time and chose an eastward route that included passage through the Panama Canal. Sunderland, by contrast, sailed Intrepid on a westward course with planned stops in places such as Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Australia, South Africa and Grenada before returning home via the Panama Canal.

“The record is cool, but Mike Perham is younger, and that is just how it goes,” Sunderland said modestly, recognizing the fluid nature of record-setting when multiple young sailors attempt global voyages.

On the day of his return, Sunderland spent time with reporters and supporters before joining a celebration at Del Rey Yacht Club. He stayed late into the night reconnecting with friends and family and was back on the dock again in the early hours for a series of interviews with major television outlets, including CBS’s The Early Show, CNN American Morning, Fox 11’s Good Day LA, CBC World News and CNN’s Campbell Brown.

Looking ahead, Sunderland plans to finish high school and to focus on projects related to the voyage. He has several creative and practical plans in motion: working on a book, collaborating on a documentary, and repairing and maintaining Intrepid with the hope of keeping his boat. He has said the experience has reshaped how he views himself, other people and the world and has altered his personal ambitions.

“I would like to continue to adventure and sail. We’ll just see what comes up,” Sunderland said, reflecting on future possibilities and the lessons learned from a long solo journey at sea.

His mother, Marianne Sunderland, who also served as his public relations representative during the voyage, expressed relief and happiness at his safe return. “We’re so ecstatic to have him back. It was great to see him at the dock,” she said. “It’ll just be nice to have him home for a while.”

For more information, the official project site is listed as www.zacsunderland.com. This story originally appeared in the September 2009 issue.