Circling the Globe on a 24-Footer

"The Moore 24 ‘Southern Hemisphere Fleet’ went out of existence at 12:35 p.m. on April 1 when Gannet crossed the Equator and returned to the weirder hemisphere after an almost three-year absence," So wrote five-time circumnavigator Webb Chiles in an email this morning. The unflappable, 75-year-old minimalist — who has authored a half-dozen books on his adventures — has now crossed the equator 15 times.

If you’ve been following his route, as we have, you know that Gannet left Durban, South Africa, two months ago, covering 6,423 miles with a single pit stop at the mid-ocean island of St. Helena.

"Even more pleasing because it wasn’t planned, but serendipitous, is that we have sailed more than half the world from Darwin, Australia, to St. Lucia with only two stops: Durban and St. Helena.

"Anchored at Darwin, Australia at 130º49’E, we are now at 60º57’W. That is more than 191º of longitude. We have also swung from 12ºS latitude to 35ºS, then up to 14ºN. Daily runs from Darwin to St. Lucia total 12,337 miles; all miles since leaving San Diego total 22,016. Not bad for a little boat intended to day race around buoys." 

With any luck, Chiles will complete his sixth lap around the planet sometime next spring when he returns to San Diego via the Panama Canal — making a strong case for the notion that ‘old guys rule’. You go, Webb! For more on his adventures see his official website.