The first definitive around the world sailing record for circumnavigation of the world can be attributed to the surviving crew of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, including the last captain Juan Sebastián Elcano who completed their journey in 1522.
Although not in a single voyage, Magellan was technically the first to circumnavigate the globe since he was killed in the Mactan Islands and while in the Kingdom of Portugal's service, Magellan had already reached the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia on previous voyages traveling east (from 1505 to 1511–1512). By visiting this area again but now traveling west, Magellan achieved a nearly complete personal circumnavigation of the globe for the first time in history.Miller, Gordon (2011). Voyages: To the New World and Beyond (1st ed.). University of Washington Press. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-295-99115-3.Dutch, Steve (21 May 1997). "Circumnavigations of the Globe to 1800". University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
Magellan's slave Enrique of Malacca may have also been the first, as he accompanied Magellan on all his voyages, including the voyage that circumnavigated the world between 1519 and 1521. On 1 May he left in Cebu, with the presumed intention to return to his home island,1938 Magellan. Der Mann und seine Tat, , pp. 213–214 and there is nothing more said of Enrique in any document.
If he succeeded in returning to his home before July 1522, he would have been the first person to circumnavigate the world and return to his starting point.Jim Foster, The Magellan Project, "Who Closed the Circle First?" , 26 August 2015. Accessed 25 September 2018.Penélope V. Flores, "Magellan’s Interpreter, Enrique, Was The First To Circumnavigate The World" , Positively Filipino. Accessed 25 September 2018.Afaf Md Din, de Malacca, Historiafactory, 20 June 2016. According to documents written by Maximilianus Transylvanus and Antonio Pigafetta, Elcano and his sailors were the first to circumnavigate the globe. Enrique is only documented to have traveled with Magellan from Malacca to Cebu in two segments—from Malacca to Portugal in 1511 and from Spain to Cebu in 1519–1521. The distance between Cebu and Malacca is 2500 km (approximately 20 degrees of longitude), which is left to complete the circumnavigation. It is not known if he ever had a chance to complete a circumnavigation, but it would have been possible: Cebu was part of the regional trade network that dealt in spices, gold, and slaves.
The first solo record was set by Joshua Slocum in the Spray (1898). The current record holders are Sodebo Ultim 3, skippered by Thomas Coville in 40 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes and 50 seconds for a crewed journey, and François Gabart with Macif in 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds for a solo journey.
Most races or solo attempts start from Europe. Due to the configuration of the continents, sailing around the world consists of sailing on the Southern Ocean around the Antarctica continent, passing south of Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin. Since 1918, the Panama Canal is an alternative option but the locks must be entered and exited using engine power. Large stretches of the canal can be crossed under sail power.
Sailing around the world can be done in two directions: eastward or westward. The dominant winds and currents (outside of the tropics) make the voyage eastwards on the Southern hemisphere faster, and most skippers and yachts who race prefer this route. Today, the multihulls perform much better than monohulls and hold the best times. Leisure yacht skippers who prefer tropical seas more often go westward, using the trade winds (and the Panama Canal). The Jules Verne Trophy is awarded for the fastest qualifying circumnavigation, starting from an imaginary line between the Créac'h lighthouse on Ushant island, France, and the Lizard Lighthousein the UK.
The records are homologated by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC). WSSRC rules state that qualifying round-the-world voyages must be at least 21,600 nmi long, calculated along the shortest possible track from the starting port and back that does not cross land and does not go below 63°S. The great-circle distance formulas are to be used, assuming that the great circle length is 21,600 nmi. It is allowed to have one single waypoint to lengthen the calculated track. The equator must be crossed. In reality, this means that the boat should pass a waypoint at or not far from the antipode of the starting port of the journey (the exact position depends on how short the shortest possible track is). For example, the Vendée Globe starts at 46°N 2°W, has a waypoint at 57°S 180°E, and barely makes the distance requirement. The participants don't have to go to the antipode at 46°S 178°E since the rounding of Africa gives extra distance.
Notable races The most famous races around the world are: The Vendée Globe, a non-stop solo race, currently run using the IMOCA 60 Class. The Ocean Race, a stopping fully crewed race, currently using the Volvo Ocean 65 and IMOCA 60 class. Previously known as the Whitbread Round The World Race and the Volvo Ocean Race. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, a stopping crewed race for amateur crews using the Clipper 70 Class. The Golden Globe Race has returned since 2018 as a retro sailing race without the use of modern technology for navigation.
Former races including: The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, held in 1968-1969, the first round-the-world yacht race. The BT Global Challenge, was a race held every four years from 1992 to 2004 and followed the westward route. The Race, was a race held in 2000, involving multihulls. The Oryx Quest, held in 2005, starting from Qatar. The Velux 5 Oceans Race, a stopping solo race, ran using the IMOCA 60 Class. Previously known as the BOC Challenge, later as Around Alone. The Barcelona World Race, a non-stop two-handed race held from 2007 to 2015, ran using the IMOCA 60 Class.
Notable solo achievements From the first round-the-world yacht race (Sunday Times Golden Globe Race) in 1968, to November 2020, around 200 sailors tried their luck in a monohull and less than 100 managed to complete the course, mainly in the context of the Vendée Globe.
Only 6 sailors completed the Westward route facing the dominant winds and currents.
Only 4 sailors managed to complete a round-the-world tour in a single-handed multihull without stopover and without assistance: Francis Joyon (2004) 72 days, (2008) 57 days Ellen MacArthur (2005) 71 days Thomas Coville (2016) 49 days, (2011) 61 days, (2008) 59 days Francois Gabart (2017) 42 days
Only 3 sailors have raced non-stop solo around the world in both directions. Mike Golding and Dee Caffari both set WSSRC Westbound world records using Global Challenge boats and also finishing the Eastbound Vendee Globe Race. In 2018 Jean-Luc Van Den Heede also managed this achievement.
Eastward route Crewed Year Time Boat name Type Crew no. Crew Context2026 January40d 10h 45m 50sSodebo Ultim 3Trimaran7 attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy2017 January40d 23h 30m 30sIDEC 3Trimaran6 Onshore Router - attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy2012 January45d 13h 42m 53sBanque Populaire VTrimaran14 Onshore Router - attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy2010 March48d 07h 44m 52sCOURSE - Groupama dans la Volvo Ocean Race : Groupama sailing team Groupama 3Trimaran10 Skipper - Navigator - attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy2005 March50d 16h 20m 04sOrange IICatamaran14Skipper - Navigator - Ronan Le Goff Jacques Caraes Florent Chaste Nicolas de Castro Ludovic Aglao attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy2004 April58d 09h 32m 45sCheyenneCatamaran13Skipper - Navigator - 2002 May64d 08h 37m 24s OrangeCatamaran13Skipper - attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy1997 March71d 14h 18m 08s Sport-ElecTrimaran7 Skipper - attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy1994 January74d 22h 17m 22sEnzaCatamaran6Co Skipper - Co Skipper - David Alan-Williams Donald Whright attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy1993 January79d 06h 15m 56sCommodore ExplorerCatamaran5Skipper - attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy
Single-handed
Multihulls Year Time Skipper Yacht Type Note201742d 16h 40m 35sMacifTrimaran 100 ftArrived on 17 December 2017, non-stop. Also the second fastest outright circumnavigation time.201649d 3h 7m 38sSodebo Ultim (formerly Geronimo)Trimaran 102 ftArrived on 25 December 2016, non-stop. Also the sixth fastest outright circumnavigation time.200857d 13h 34m 06sIDEC 2Trimaran 97 ftArrived on 19 January 2008, non-stop.200571d 14h 18m 33sB&Q/CastoramaTrimaran 75 ftArrived on 8 February, non-stop.200472d 22h 54m 22sIDEC (formerly Poulain)TrimaranNon-stop1989125dUn autre regard (formerly Poulain)TrimaranTwo stops1988129d 19h 17mKriter brut de brutTrimaranTwo stops1973169dManureva (formerly Pen Duick IV)TrimaranOne stop
Monohulls Year Time Skipper Yacht Type Context2025 (January)64d 19h 22m 49sMACIF Santé PrévoyanceIMOCA 60During 2024-2025 Vendee Globe, non-stop and no assistance2017 (January)74d 3h 35mBanque Populaire VIIIIMOCA 60During 2016-2017 Vendée Globe, non-stop and no assistance2017 (January)74d 19h 35mHUGO BOSSIMOCA 60During 2016-2017 Vendée Globe, non-stop and no assistance2013 (January)78d 2h 16mMACIFIMOCA 60During 2012-2013 Vendée Globe, non-stop and no assistance2009 (January)84d 3h 09mFonciaIMOCA 60During 2008-2009 Vendée Globe, non-stop and no assistance2005 (Feb)87d 10h 45m 55sPRB (2)IMOCA 60During 2004-2005 Vendée Globe, non-stop and no assistance2001 (Feb) 93d 3h 57m 32sPRB (2)IMOCA 60During 2000-2001 Vendée Globe, non-stop and no assistance1997105d 20h 31m 23sGeodisIMOCA 60During 1996-1997 Vendée Globe, non-stop and no assistance1990109d 08h 48' 50"Ecureuil d'Aquitaine IIMonohullDuring 1989-1990 Vendée Globe, non-stop and no assistance1986150d 1h 6mAmerican PromiseMonohull12 November 1985 – 11 April 1986, non-stop Swift, E. M. "Feat Of Global Dimensions: Dodge Morgan sailed his 60-foot cutter, American Promise, around the world non-stop in a record-shattering 150 days", Sports Illustrated, 21 April 1986. Accessed 19 September 2010.1985236d 10h 45mLaiviņaMonohull3 November 1984 – 27 June 1985 non-stop. Santa Barbara to Santa Barbara, CA, USA. Guinness record. Times Colonist – 15 July 1985 "Solo sailor steps ashore after global record feat" Total voyage: Victoria to Victoria, BC, Canada. 14 October, 1984 – 14 July 1985. 1982419d 22h 10mPerie BanouMonohullThe first single-handed sailor to remain continuously at sea twice around the world west to east via Southern Ocean1969313dSuhailiMonohullAttempt at Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. Achieved first non-stop single handed circumnavigation.1967226dGipsy Moth IVMonohullSolo attempt. One Stop in Sydney. Second person to achieve a true circumnavigation of the world solo, after Joshua Slocum.
Non-stop Longest Distance Sailed This record is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records
Year Time Skipper Yacht Type Context Ref.1988 657d 21h 18mParry Endeavour MonohullTriple non-stop solo circumnavigation, longest distance sailed non-stop by any vessel (71,023 nautical miles)
Singlehanded Female
Multihull Date Time Skipper Yacht Type Note Ref.2005-02-08 71d 14h 18m 33s B&Q/Castorama 75 ft Trimaran 2000 94d 04h 25m Kingfisher 60 ft MonohullIMOCA 60 set doing the 2000–2001 Vendée Globe Race 1996 140d 04h 38m Whirlpool-Europe 2 60 ft MonohullIMOCA 60 set doing the 1996–1997 Vendée Globe Race 1995 285d 26m 27s Spirit/Birmingham 38 ft Monohull
The following voyages were pioneers and not officially recognized by the WSSRC. Ten women have completed the Vendee Globe, with two of them having broken the outright record and more recently the establishment of a monohull record. In 1978 sailed solo round the world in 272d on Express Crusader (formerly Spirit of Cutty Sark) a 53 ft Monohull Van der Stadt design Gallant 53.