My name is Zac Sunderland. On June 14, 2008 I set sail from Marina del Rey, California to sail solo around the world. My goals were to see the world and to be the youngest person to sail solo around the world. On July 16th, 2009 13 months later, I successfully completed my journey. This blog is the record of my year at sea alone. ©2010 Zac Sunderland All Rights Reserved
36 Comments:
That shot of Intrepid through the trees is gorgeous! Maybe the cover of the book?
I got the December 2008 Cruising World magazine yesterday. Yes, I know, I'm a poser. I can't afford to cruise, but I just afford the magazine.
Anyway, there is an interesting article in it by Tania Aebi, featuring her impressions of our own Zac, as well as another young man by the name of Ryan Langley, who is currently gathering the werewithal to attempt a similar voyage. It's a neat story of her pont of view on the adventure, challenge, and worth of this type of voyage for a young person.
I just hope I'm that young someday.
I haven't checked it yet (had to make sure our Zac was well first) but she gives a website for Mr. Langley's attempt.
Praying daily Numbers 6:24-26
Mouse in Whittier
www.myspace.com/mouseonamotorcycle
Marianne:
Thanks for breaking the silence. The bad news: You've committed Laurence for his data on Mauritius and his time with Zac. That's a date we'll all keep!
The photos are all great and I agree with Mouse that the one of Intrepid through the trees is something special. It's something dreams are made of. Are there any more like that?
Laurence, looking forward to the promised post. We'll maintain patience, but will be checking back regularly.
Glad you're home safely and hope your baggage finally made it also. My luggage has more air miles that I do, but it has always turned up.
The Croaker
Thanks, Marianne! Love the pictures! They are just beautiful.
Laurence certainly needs his sleep and we'll look forward to hearing from him later.
Hope everyone is feeling better!
Blessings,
Jennifer and Ben
Sherman Oaks,CA
Hi Marianne,
Thanks for posting high resolution pictures. You can actually click on them to enlarge and see the young man close up.
He looks happy and healthy. I think he needs to do a pony tail. It would look great now with his hair the length it is.
Can't wait to hear from Laurence after he has had some rest. Love his postings. Zac has obviously learned his writing skills from his mom and dad.
I can just hear Bill, "where are my scissors & why hasn't Zac got his hair cut yet!" LOL
Very impressive pic of Capt Zac on the "didge". maybe Capt Zac will be able to record something for us :) Tough instrument to learn, but once learned can be interesting to hear renditions from.
Very happy to see he's getting some much needed rest. Hope Lady Intrepids repairs are coming along smoothly & w/out any "burps".
Thx Lady Marianne for taking the time to share the post/pics - YOU KNOW we love them! :)
Hope Team Sunderland is getting ove y'all's colds/flu without challenges.
Warm Fuzzy HUGS!!!
Tomi/ATL
Thanks, Marianne. Love those pics! Every stop looks more breathtaking than the previous one.
Oh, man! Zac's hair is starting to take up a life of its own! He's starting to look like a real male lion!!!!!!
:-)
hehehe
Scott
Woooooo! Thankies for the pics :)
Oh, bless your hearts, mustering up the energy to add some photos for us, when all you would want to do is sleeeep! Jetlag is something else eh.
Hope that you are not hit too bad with the flu in your household....it is everywhere! I have had it too. Worries me how one would operate on the oceans feeling so grim.But I guess Zac was on land so that is not such a worry but hope he is recouping and feeling brighter and stronger.
Love the photos Laurence. Zac looks so different...maybe it's the hair but I think he is looking more like a 17 year old every time we see him! He's looking good for sure.
The next leg looming and I can almost feel the adrenaline flowing even thinking about it.
Thinking of you all and praying for Zac's health and safety.
UK friend
Interesting to see Ryan Langley's plans - he's going to miss the boat (sorry, no pun intended) for being the youngest, as Zac and Mike have already set off, and he's missed his autumn slot.
Ryan is planning to go the same route as Mike, but it's odd he doesn't detail his boat or any firm plans. Bit of a pipedream, perhaps?
Love those photos! Thank you.
Zac, you must be getting anxious to get back out to sea. Hopefully your cold/flu has started to wind down; hated to hear you were ill :(
We have about 3-4 inches of snow here in Waterloo, NY. It was 18 degrees F this morning, so viewing the island photos was a welcome treat!
@ Mouse: thanks for the article info, will have to go out and get a copy.
Blessings to the Sunderlands, and all the Zac Pac- from snowy Waterloo, NY!!
Anita Miracle
Hello All,
So we didn't get a bedtime story from Laurence. Well that's okay at least we had some great pictures to look at. All of us will be waiting for Laurence's account of the trip and we always enjoy his writings. Laurence work up some courage and start typing away. Everyone here enjoys it when you write, we can't wait!!!
Hopefully all is well Zac and hopefully you'll be sailing soon. Get all the rest you can before this next leg.
Take Care,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Dang... It seems like I've missed so much. Getting caught up now, but, oh what great pictures!
Hope you're doing as good as the Pics indicate, Zac...
Cheers to you and all!
willy
milford, ohio
Thanks, Marianne. Glad Dad is back safe and sound.
from Iowa
I think I need to add Mauritius to my travel list! It's beautiful! Hope Zac is feeling better today!
Jan from D.C.
I didn't look at the comments from yesterday so don't know if anyone noted this, but here in LA on Wednesday around lunchtime, I was listening to the talk radio station (97.1 FM), and they were talking about what it would be like to live on a boat, and one of them mentioned Zac. Sounded like they may have even been following the blog because they spoke about that scary time Zac had when that other boat was mysteriously stalking him!
As I have my nose buried in this blog on a daily basis, it felt like the radio folks were talking about something very personal to me.
Dana
Santa Monica
Thanks for the wonderful photos. Zac and Intrepid look to be rested and in good shape.
Looking forward to Laurence's assessment of Zac and Intrepid once he's rested. Welcome home Laurence!
Yay! I love pictures! Haha I love the one with Zac and his "didge" lol that one's great. Looks like someone needs a haircut, eh? I hope he's feeling better. And I agree with mouse about the book cover. Definitely. Mauritus is so gorgeous, it is just beyond words. The water is SO clear!
I hope the Sunderlands across the globe are recuperating VERRRYYY quickly!
Prayers and blessings,
EmilyAnne
Fayetteville, NC
Thought followers of Zac's trip would be interested in the latest from Mike Perham's voyage.
Big excitement for him last night. His autopilot went out as he slept, slamming him into an accidental jibe (the mainsail boom crashing acroas from one side of the boat to the other). Had to go on deck and tension one running backstay before slacking the other. Quick thinking, but he's putting into Portugal to make repairs. His generator has also been acting up. He's showing great spirit and clear thinking. He's a good writer, and is taking it all with good cheer. For the latest on his journey see: http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/. Once there, click on the blue "Blog" link at the top of the page to get his most recent entry.
He's still trying for a nonstop voyage -- and will just re-set the start as from Portugal. But wouldn't be surprised to see more maintenance-induced stops along the way. That will just show that he is tougher than the electronics and support systems on board. As Zac has found all sorts of things can go wrong on a boat, especially one being pushed day and night, and double especially for electronics in a marine environment.
I was wondering yesterday why his course was taking him so close to shore after claring the Bay of Biscay. -- Grant Fjermedal, Seattle
to Mouse on a Motor: a great shot indeed, but i think the cover should be the shot of Zac holding the globe, it doesn't even need a caption, and Bill would like it 'cause you can't tell he needs a haircut,,,
Rock On Zac
Thanks for sharing the nice pics! God bless!
hello zac
i had a question in regards to the solo sailing around the world. i was checking into what has to be done to be granted the title of the youngest sailer to circumnavigate the globe. it mentions that one can not receive any help or assistance . i have read that there has been times when you have needed help with repairs ect. will that disqualify you from achieving your goal?
Thanks Mum. Photos will certainly do. Many prayers for Zac. God goes before you and with you. I do hope you feel our prayer support.
Until we hear from the Zac Team next, stay safe and be well,
Kathy Bend, OR
Hey Zac and Sunderlands
Hope you're all feeling well today.
Thanks Mrs. Sunderland for the note and pictures! Liked the one of Zac on the didge. It looks like an interesting instrument. Probably hard to play. The pic of the "Intrepid" was also fabulous.
@Peter
I have to say I don't think Zac would look good in a pony tail. My preference, but I think it looked better when he left. Grown out, but not long. No offence meant to anybody.
Continuing to pray for you Zac. Do you have any specific prayer needs?
A homeschooled friend :)
@ anonymous who asked about Zac's receiving maintenance help along the way and how that might affect his record status. Please read Zac's FAQs Page, which is a link under "Donate" on the right side of the blog (and also a link in the header of his Home page). You will find your question, and most of the questions bloggers have asked, are answered there.
We'll have to switch out the photo of an unknown person playing the "didge" on his FAQ pages with the one of Zac, now that we have the "real McCoy!"
Marilyn in Woodland Hills
Congrats on Laurence's safe arrival back home. Much love to all of you as you celebrate Thanksgiving in seperate time zones!
Zac, If U see any delicious Mauritius babes (Jen Anistonesque with a maur/french accent) SEND!!
A solo racer around the world is making unexpected stop in a nearby port to make repairs. Zac-Packers (or are we Zac-Pacs?), does this sound familiar? Mike Perham encountered his first problem and still has a long and perilous way to go. So does Zac, except that our kid has a 12,000 nautical miles worth of solo experience. Godspeed to you both, fellas.
On the subject of hair. Zac, you are in a windy and violent enviroment, so you need to make sure that your long(er) hair does not get in the way of equipment, sheets, halyards, forestays, etc. May I suggest a ponytail when on the water. Or a hair net. Or a bandanna. Or - Bill Mann this one's for you - scissors.
Zoran
JIM,KIM AND JEREMY FROM GOLDEN VALLEY AZ. WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR SECOND HALF AND EVERYONE AT MY WORK IS PULLING FOR YOU AND INQUIRE ABOUT YOUR WHERE ABOUTS... TAKE CARE...AND YES SHOT FIRST... JIM....
great photos! am so thankful that you can click on them to make them larger!!! thanks!
hoping everything is getting done on Intrepid and you have a safe passage to SA!!
also, who ever said that the photo with Zac holding the globe is great for the book cover.. man, I agree - priceless!
be safe!!
Jen
Wow brave trip. When I was young I remember the Dove trip and being admiring and envious at the same time.
Very impressed you're very brave.
Thank you for the photos Marianne! Your "boy" looks happy and well:)
Hope the Sunderland clan is better after battling the flu. Welcome home to Laurence and best wishes to Team Sunderland and the Pack for a Happy Thanksgiving.
Don't know about the turkey spam suggestion, but do know that turkey jerky is delicious. I hope that Zac has something special to feast on for the upcoming holiday season. Is it too late to send a Christmas greeting? Will Zac be in S. Africa? Did I miss the address? Could someone please post again? Thanks!
Zac, this "foodie" is curious to know what interesting edibles you've provisioned from your island stops, if you ever get a moment to answer more questions...
Love the photo of you playing the didge? Is it difficult? Do you play any other musical instruments?
@Willyboy -- Welcome back fellow Buckeye! (Ohio is known as the "Buckeye" state for those who don't follow U.S. college football or midwestern American trees)
@Bill -- no comment on Zac's locks?? LOL
Best wishes to all for a wonderful weekend! CindyinCincy
Hope you're over the flu soon! That's got to be nasty - trying to work on Intrepid at the same time...
Nice photo of you playing the didgeridoo. Is it hard? I (Jessica) went to a ball three years ago and one of the instruments was a didgeridoo... pretty cool!
Thanks for the pictures. :-)
~Jessica and Rosemary from Canada
I want to wish all Zac Pac-ers and Sunderland family a very Happy Thanksgiving Day....
Wonderful pictures of Zac and the various Islands....clear waters and Intrepid...also Jen!
You are all great and I enjoy reading your blogs each day....thank you. Wishing you health and safe keeping...sail on Zac!!!
Betty E. in Lomita, CA
Very beautiful photos of Mauritius. Do they offer cheap airfares to this place? Just underwent laser treatment and I want to flaunt my new bikini.
Entertaining post to read. Some nice pics too. Mauritius is really a great place to visit. I go there whenever I can
Great pictures! thanks for sharing it. I am now convinced to spend my holiday in Mauritus.
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