The Spray: First solo circumnavigation of the earth Joshua Slocum

the spray

in fairhaven, massachusetts, rebuilt 36′ 9″ (11.2 m) gaff rigged sloop oyster boat named spray.

on april 24, 1895, set sail boston, massachusetts. in famous book, sailing alone around world, considered classic of travel literature, described departure in following manner:

had resolved on voyage around world, , wind on morning of april 24, 1895 fair, @ noon weighed anchor, set sail, , filled away boston, spray had been moored snugly winter. twelve o clock whistles blowing sloop shot ahead under full sail. short board made harbor on port tack, coming stood seaward, boom off port, , swung past ferries lively heels. photographer on outer pier of east boston got picture of swept by, flag @ peak throwing folds clear. thrilling pulse beat high in me. step light on deck in crisp air. felt there no turning back, , engaging in adventure meaning of thoroughly understood.

after extended visit boyhood home @ brier island , visiting old haunts on coast of nova scotia, slocum departed north america @ sambro island lighthouse near halifax, nova scotia on july 3, 1895.

slocum intended sail eastward around world, using suez canal, when got gibraltar realized sailing through southern mediterranean dangerous lone sailor because of piracy still went on there @ time. decided sail westward, in southern hemisphere. headed brazil, , straits of magellan. @ point unable start across pacific forty days because of storm. made way australia, sailed north along east coast, crossed indian ocean, rounded cape of hope, , headed north america.

slocum navigated without chronometer, instead relying on traditional method of dead reckoning longitude, required cheap tin clock approximate time, , noon-sun sights latitude. on 1 long passage in pacific, slocum famously shot lunar distance observation, decades after these observations had ceased commonly employed, allowed him check longitude independently. however, slocum s primary method finding longitude still dead reckoning; recorded 1 lunar observation during entire circumnavigation.

slocum sailed spray without touching helm. due length of sail plan relative hull, , long keel, spray capable of self-steering (unlike faster modern craft), , balanced stably on course relative wind adjusting or reefing sails , lashing helm fast. sailed 2,000 miles (3,200 km) west across pacific without once touching helm.

more 3 years later, on june 27, 1898, returned newport, rhode island, having circumnavigated world, distance of more 46,000 miles (74,000 km). slocum s return went unnoticed. spanish–american war, had begun 2 months earlier, dominated headlines. after end of major hostilities, many american newspapers published articles describing slocum s amazing adventure.

sailing alone around world

original cover 1900.



spray being hauled erie canal pan-american exposition in buffalo 1901.

in 1899 published account of epic voyage in sailing alone around world, first serialized in century magazine , in several book-length editions. reviewers received anachronistic age-of-sail adventure story enthusiastically. arthur ransome went far declare, boys not book ought drowned @ once. in review, sir edwin arnold wrote, not hesitate call extraordinary book ever published.

slocum s book deal integral part of journey: publisher had provided slocum extensive on-board library, , slocum wrote several letters editor distant points around globe.

slocum s sailing alone won him widespread fame in english-speaking world. 1 of 8 invited speakers @ dinner in honor of mark twain in december 1900. slocum hauled spray erie canal buffalo, new york pan-american exposition in summer of 1901, , compensated participating in fair.