Global sailor Zac Sunderland in Panama Canal, nearing home stretch
Zac Sunderland, well aware that hurricane season off Mexico's western coast has officially begun, is in the Panama Canal and anticipating his last few days of rest and relaxation before embarking on the final leg of an around-the-world solo adventure that began last June.
The concluding leg from Panama City to Marina del Rey will be exhausting; it's an uphill sail covering 2,970 miles and will occur with eyes of supporters on weather watch for developing tropical storms. If Sunderland, 17, makes it, he will have covered 24,568 miles alone in his 36-foot sailboat and become the youngest person to solo-circumnavigate the planet in a sailboat.
(England's Mike Perham, who is a few months younger than Zac and attempting the same feat, has a lot longer to go -- he's currently stuck in New Zealand with his vessel undergoing repairs.)
Sunderland, who lives in Thousand Oaks, will pick up a new sail in Panama City. He'll do some filming for a documentary and tour the city before shoving off, possibly this weekend.
Presently, he's either at Pedro Miguel Lock or en route to Miraflores Locks. For a possible glimpse of his vessel, Intrepid, try the Miraflores Locks webcam. And please check back for periodic updates on the shaggy-haired adventurer.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Zac Sunderland on an earlier part of his journey. Credit: Jen Edney
Amazing kid. Go Zack.
Posted by: steve | May 19, 2009 at 08:01 PM
Best wishes for a safe return!
What a great adventure.
Posted by: Westside Steve | May 21, 2009 at 05:09 PM
ZAC----TRULY AN INSPIRING YOUNG GUY YOU ARE !!!!!!!!!!!!!---TO ANYONE WHO FEELS LIKE GIVING UP OR THROWING IN THE TOWEL WHEN FEAR DESPERATION OR LONLINESS SETS IN-----YOU ARE A SHINING STAR KIDDO !!!!!!-----GOD GUIDE YOU SAFELY HOME------GARY GREELY-------NFL ALUMNI
Posted by: GARY D GREELY---- | June 05, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Wow, you have got to that one more time, hugh? Go Zach !!!
Posted by: Matt Gret | June 17, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Will you marry my daughter? JK. We have watched many a sunset on the Panama Canal from the hammocks at Billy D's boatshed. I'm sad to say we were not there the day you went through. We would have loved to cheer you on!!!!! I spent my teen years sailing a 32' around the Channel Islands. Never once handled the boat on my own. Dreamed of it though.
Here's to hoping you are an inspiration to my young daughters, you are to me.
Sharon Aanstoos
Posted by: SHARON AANSTOOS | July 16, 2009 at 05:07 PM