In 1895 a retired Canadian sea captain set off to sail alone around the world. It had never been done, and it took Joshua Slocum three years, but the book of his adventures made him famous. Since then, fewer than 200 people have sailed in his wake and two of them are also Canadian. IDEAS contributor Philip Coulter explores this greatest challenge sailors set for themselves - possibly the greatest of all human challenges.

Participants in the program:

Derek Lundy, author of Godforsaken Sea, about the single-handed non-stop Vendee Globe race of 1996-97.

Derek Hatfield, completed 2002/3 Around Alone race (five stages).

Dee Caffari, 2006/7 westerly solo (first woman); completed 2008/9 Vendee Globe.


Readings from Joshua Slocum's book Sailing Alone Around the World, by Albert Schultz.


Reading List:

Against the Flow by Dee Caffari, about her 2006/7 solo westerly circumnavigation, published by Adlard Coles, 2007.

Sea of Dreams by Adam Mayers, about the 2002/3 Around Alone race, published by McCLelland & Stewart, 2006.

Godforsaken Sea by Derek Lundy, about the 1996/7 Vendee Globe race,

Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum, a narrative of his 1895-98 circumnavigation.

The Sailing Spirit by John Hughes, about his 1986 BOC Challenge race, published by Seal Books.

The Hard Way Round by Geoffrey Wolff, a biography of Slocum, published by Knopf.