Please select your home edition
Edition
Navico AUS Zeus3S LEADERBOARD

Holed and Engineless, but He's a Circumnavigator

by Bliss Barber, Cape Times/Sail-World on 5 Dec 2007
Petr Muzik on his damaged Shoestring after return to Cape Town SW
It's triumph over disaster for a Cape Town sailor this week. After limping through the Indian Ocean with a leaking boat and a missing engine, Petr Muzik, 69, returned to Cape Town on Monday after a three-year circumnavigation of the world, leaving 32 countries and 29 500 miles of ocean in his wake.

Muzik navigated his slightly battered yacht, the Shoestring, to the conclusion of her journey on Monday morning at 9am when he arrived home at the Royal Cape Yacht Club after 1 100 days of sailing.

'She's just a little tired and in need of some repairs,' he said.

The boat had been damaged off the Chagos Archipelago, south of the Maldives, after strong winds grounded her on a coral reef, puncturing the bottom and costing her the engine.

The collision tore off part of the yacht's keel and the motor propeller, and three hours later the Shoestring was sinking and the floorboards were afloat.

'I dove off the side and covered the hole with foam. I managed to stop the leak, but I had to continue pumping (water) every three hours,' he said.

Muzik said he found a dagger board from an abandoned catamaran in the bush and fashioned it into a rudder for the boat. It was a 'miracle' that the motor had finally begun running again, he said.

With autopilot out of commission and minor leaks in the floor of the vessel, Muzik hand-steered the boat to Richards Bay, continuing through to Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, and then Cape Town.

His wife, May, said she wasn't surprised that her husband had finished the journey successfully.

'He's been sailing since he was nine; he knows the ocean,' she said.

Muzik said it was at the age of nine that he first dreamed of circumnavigating the world.

'It was only at 69 that I finally achieved my dream.'

He said he hoped to one day charter trips for locals and tourists.

Muzik leaves for his home in Port Owen on Tuesday, but is expected to return soon to begin repairs.

Contact Bliss Barber: bliss.barber@inl.co.za
Sea Sure 2025Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Related Articles

Admiral's Cup David Maynard Thursday Gallery
First race of the day, captured for our viewing pleasure David Maynard was out on the water to catch the action from race 1 on Thursday.
Posted today at 7:05 pm
Yoann Richomme returns to Fastnet
Says Elodie Bonafous' is the boat to beat This weekend's biennial Rolex Fastnet Race - one of the oldest classics in sailing - sees the IMOCA Class return to the racetrack, with eight boats on the startline on Saturday for what is the second round of this year's IMOCA Globe Series Championship.
Posted today at 3:12 pm
Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam Day 6
Arguably the best female Freestyle final of all time Sarah-Quita Offringa pushed all the way by Maaike Huvermann in arguably the best female Freestyle final of all time, while Yentel Caers wins ‘Battle of Belgium' against Steven Van Broeckhoven to hold respective event leads.
Posted today at 11:48 am
Admiral's Cup 2025 | D2 Inshore Racing Videos
One race and then it was all done. Very light and even a bit of liquid sunshine. One race and then it was all done. Very light and even a bit of liquid sunshine.
Posted today at 10:57 am
How to follow RORC Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race
At present 451 yachts are entered, which, if all start on Saturday, will break the previous record. This year's centennial edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race will set sail this Saturday, 26 July from the Royal Yacht Squadron line off Cowes, Isle of Wight, bound for Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France.
Posted today at 10:30 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 3
When racing got under way, it was a game of patience, persistence, and pressure-hunting Day 3 of the WASZP Games dawned with cautious optimism as the early risers in the boat park were greeted by a light but promising northerly breeze. However, an approaching front caused the race committee to call a three-hour postponement.
Posted today at 8:23 am
Masters Games in Canberra early bird entries
More than 200 sailors are expected to hit the waters of Lake Burley Griffin More than 200 sailors are expected to hit the waters of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra this October as part of the 2025 Australian Masters Games
Posted today at 6:52 am
Admiral's Cup Paul Wyeth Wednesday Photo Gallery
The wind was lighter, the conditions were overcast, but Paul still makes the action come alive The wind was lighter, the conditions were overcast, but Paul Wyeth still makes the action come alive with his photos. Here's his gallery from the racing on Wednesday in the 2025 Admiral's Cup.
Posted today at 5:26 am
Admiral's Cup PKC Media Wednesday Photo Gallery
Out on the water on Wednesday to capture the lighter wind action Patrick Condy of PKC Media was out on the water on Wednesday to capture the lighter wind action in the 2025 Admiral's Cup. Here are his selection of photos from the racing!
Posted today at 5:06 am
Admiral's Cup Ingrid Abery Wednesday Gallery
Up close and personal with the teams on a lighter wind day Thanks to her long lens and skill, Ingrid Abery got up close and personal with the Admiral's Cup teams on a lighter wind day in the Solent. Enjoy these crew photos, and many more in the gallery above!
Posted today at 4:46 am