The Stirling Ranges are a string of mountains in southwestern Western Australia. They rise from a low plateau 40 miles (65 km) north of Albany and run parallel to the coast for 50 miles (80 km). The range reaches its highest point at Bluff Knoll, 3,596 feet (1,096 m). (Source Encyclopaedia Britannica)

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is an annual event hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, New South Wales on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170km). The race is run in co-operation with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult yacht races in the world. (Source Sydney Hobart Yacht Race)

Cook Strait is a strait separating the North and South islands of New Zealand, extending northwest to southeast from the Tasman Sea to the south Pacific Ocean. About 14 miles (23 km) wide at its narrowest point, it averages 420 feet (128 m) in depth. Both shores are lined with steep cliffs, and that of the South Island is deeply embayed. Treacherous currents and fierce storms present serious hazards to navigation. (Source Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Enjoying our coverage of Jon Sanders’ triple circumnaviation of the world? Sanders is about to set sail on a new adventure:

‘Yachting legend Jon Sanders and his faithful SV Perie Banou II are taking one last circumnavigation of the world. This will be yet another record-breaking feat, his 10th voyage around planet earth.

Jon will be setting sail on this historic voyage from Fremantle, Western Australia during October 2016. He plans to return to Fremantle one year later after circumnavigating the world. This circumnavigation will include two formal races. The Dirk Hartog Island Race, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the landing by Dutch voyagers on Australian shores, commences 15th October 2016. The 2017 Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro Race, a 3,600 nautical mile race across the South Atlantic, commences January 2017. A crew will be supporting Jon in these two races. Jon will sail solo for the majority of the voyage.’

For more information, see Jon Sanders’ website.

Photographer: Andrew Ritchie – Community Newspaper Group

Read this Western Suburbs Weekly article about Jon Sanders’ upcoming 10th circumnavigation of the world in October 2016.