Sanders’ arrival in Fremantle

The Triple Solo Sailor blog has commemorated the 30th anniversary of Jon Sanders’ record breaking triple circumnavigation of the world for the past 658 days. Today, on 13 March 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of his return.

CUL00040/1 Photograph by Evan Collis, courtesy State Library Western Australia.

00056_001 Photograph by Evan Collis, courtesy State Library of Western Australia.

Sanders sailed into Fremantle at 10.17am on Sunday 13 March 1988, completing his triple circumnavigation of the world. The voyage took 658 days and he had travelled 70,000 nautical miles.

Parry Endeavour in Fremantle Harbour

00065_001 Photograph by Diana Dunbar, reproduced with permission

The yacht was dressed in the Bicentennial, Curtin University, RAC, Royal Perth Yacht Club and Australian flags. An estimated 350 craft and 130,000 people were on the sea and shore to greet Sanders.

Crowds at Fremantle Harbour

00065_001_007 Photograph by Diana Dunbar, reproduced with permission

WA Premier Peter Dowding presented a welcome speech and a parade was held in Sanders’ honour throughout Perth streets the following Thursday. This day of the parade was proclaimed ‘Jon Sanders Day’ by the local newspapers and the State government gave all WA school children the day off school.

Jon Sanders arriving in Fremantle Harbour

00040_001 Records of Project Endeavour

The Guinness Book of Records recognised him as the first person to single-handedly complete five circumnavigations, and as the first person to single-handedly complete three non-stop circumnavigations. The triple-circumnavigation was the longest distance sailed continuously by any vessel (131,535 km).

After all the calms and fickle winds, after all the tempestuous gales – frightening sometimes – after clearing mighty Capes – more than once – after crossing a lot of oceans more than once, after hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of days at sea – 658 in all – you can imagine my moment, you can imagine my hour, when I stood on the cockpit ladder step and looked forward as I have done so often before and there dead ahead of the yacht was the Rottnest Island Lighthouse. Home, once more.

– Jon Sanders, speaking at the official welcome home celebrations, 13 March 1988.

Jon Sanders stepping off Parry Endeavour

00040_001 Records of Project Endeavour

More recently, Sanders completed his 10th circumnavigation of the world. His mostly solo ‘Swan Song’ voyage was completed at a leisurely pace, departing on Sunday 16 October 2016 and returning on Sunday 11 February 2018.

Jon Sanders on yacht with Curtin teddy bear

Jon Sanders on his yacht with Curtin University teddy bear

Sanders took a teddy bear dressed in Curtin University graduation attire and a Curtin flag on his journey. He came to the JCPML to present these to University Librarian Catherine Clark.

Sanders presenting the bear to University Librarian Catherine Clark

Sanders presenting the teddy bear to University Librarian Catherine Clark

Sanders placing the bear into an archive box.

Sanders placing the teddy bear into an archive box.

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Sanders signing the JCPML visitors book.

The teddy bear will be added to the Library’s archive.

Curtin flag and teddy bear

Before the voyage

Return teddy bear and flag

After the voyage

He Cannot Garden – article on 10th circumnavigation

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“This just something I’ve enjoyed. Yet after three times around non-stop and unassisted, I guess it would have been a great thing to simply arrive anyway, without the kind of reception that I got. I really didn’t expect and it is something I could never forget.”

A great article from Sail World about Jon Sanders’ current 10th circumnavigation. Read more here.