Zac Sunderland, 17, Becomes Youngest to Solo Sail Around the World

Text by Annie Hay

After surviving 397 days at sea, 17-year-old Zac Sunderland has become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe sailing solo. Sunderland, from Thousand Oaks, California, began his 28,000-nautical-mile journey in Marina Del Ray aboard a 1972, 36-foot Islander Sailboat. Working 18-hour days to fund the $6,000 purchase and retrofitting of his boat, he announced that his goal was to sail around the world—alone.

The trip spanned three oceans, five seas, and included short stopovers in 12 ports around the globe. As is expected on the high seas, his trip was not without near failures and life-threatening crises—including a threat from pirates, a storm that brought 30-foot waves, and an electrical fire.

Zac documented his expedition in video and writing—check out his blog at zacsunderland.com.