A week of inspiration, disappointment, achievement...

by Nancy Knudsen, Editor on 29 Apr 2010 16-year-old Californian sailor Abby Sunderland, disappointed by her need to stop, still has almost 1000 miles to go before she reaches Capetown to have her autopilot repaired. Like Britain's Mike Perham, it is the boat, not the sailor, that is preventing her from sailing around the world non-stop.

In the meantime Australia's Jessica Watson is down in the Southern Ocean again to round the tip of Tasmania for her final run up the coast to Sydney. Although the world will applaud their bravery, the achievements of both girls won't matter much in the sailing world itself, as neither of them, gutsy as they, will have broken any sailing records, official or unofficial, when they complete their respective voyages.

If you accept Sir Francis Chichester's original definition of a circumnavigation – and all previous sailors going for records have, including Jesse Martin - you must 'girdle the earth' or reach an antipodal point on the globe.

The news from the oceans of the world is as fascinating as ever and it's a week full of inspiring stories. One is the account of how the Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans has rebounded from Katrina, and another is contained in the book by Ginni MacRobert who raised a family in Hong Kong and then set out with her dog and cat and occasional crew to circumnavigate the world.

Then there's the quad sailor who is circumnavigating Australia, and the Vasco da Gama Rally which is resting and sailing along the coast of India. They've just completed their voyage from Turkey through the Red Sea. Yacht Ketoro tells of their sailing from Chagos to the Maldives, and Pat Goldstiver tells of her sailing to one of the most remote parts of Polynesia – Pitcairn Island.

Much more too, so browse down the stories to see what interests you, and...

Sweet sailing!