Joshua Slocum: Bold and determined

Joshua Slocum, a member of the first group inducted in the National Sailing Hall of Fame, is best known for achieving the first ever circumnavigation under sail — a three-year, 45,000-mile odyssey – completed in a pudgy, old, 35-foot gaff-rigged work boat that Slocum rebuilt himself.

It was 1895 when he set out alone aboard his treasured boat, Spray, on a trip around the world by sea. When it comes to stories about sea expeditions, hardly any can compare with his boldness and determination. Slocum didn’t just show that humans can endure anything physically but also demonstrated what self-confidence mixed with dream-chasing may lead to.

Slocum wrote about the journey in Spray: The Story of Joshua Slocum’s Record-Breaking Voyage. The ebook is available for free download, in PDF and ePub formats. For details, click here.