Solo. Non-Stop. Unassisted.

A Guinness World Record Attempt | October 2027

In October 2027, I plan to set sail from Adelaide, South Australia, aboard my 56-foot ketch, Sea Dragon, on an extraordinary adventure. A solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the world.

No crew, no stopping in ports, no outside assistance and no engine propulsion. Just me, my boat and some of the most challenging oceans on the planet.

Oh, and I've only got one leg!

How did I get here?

My name is Tim Whitrow. I've spent much of my life enjoying the outdoors, sailing, travelling and chasing the occasional adventure.

For nearly three decades, I worked in the Australian wine industry as a winemaker, a career that took me to some wonderful places and introduced me to some extraordinary people.

But on 16 November 2019, my life changed dramatically.

I was involved in a serious light aircraft accident that left me with devastating injuries. I spent more than a week in intensive care, underwent numerous operations and ultimately lost my right leg below the knee. My left foot and ankle were also badly damaged.

Recovery was a long and difficult road, and learning to live with a prosthetic leg brought challenges I could never have imagined.

There were certainly times when I wondered what life was going to look like from that point onwards.

But one thing I discovered is that losing a limb doesn't mean losing your appetite for adventure.

The idea

Somewhere along the way, I started thinking about sailing around the world.

Not as part of a crew, not stopping at exotic ports along the way, but completely alone, without stopping or receiving outside assistance.

The more I thought about it, the more the idea grew.

And then came another thought.

Could I become the first amputee to complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe?

As far as my research has established, no amputee has achieved this particular feat, and I've begun the process with Guinness World Records to pursue official recognition for the attempt.

It's an enormous challenge, physically, mentally and technically, but that's also what makes it so exciting.

Meet Sea Dragon

My home, and soon to be my travelling companion, is Sea Dragon, a 56-foot Formosa ketch built in 1983.

She's a heavily constructed, traditional ocean-going yacht with a solid fibreglass hull, fin keel and the sort of character you don't find in many modern boats.

She's certainly no lightweight racing machine, but she's a strong, capable vessel that I believe can be prepared for the journey ahead.

Before departure, there's a substantial amount of work to be done.

Sails, rigging, electrical systems, communications, navigation equipment, emergency equipment and countless other details all need to be inspected, upgraded or replaced where necessary.

When you're thousands of miles from the nearest land, there's no pulling into a marina to pick up a spare part.

Everything needs to be as reliable and self-sufficient as possible.

The voyage

The plan is to depart Adelaide in October 2027, heading east across the Southern Ocean, rounding Cape Horn, crossing the equator and venturing into the North Atlantic before returning south and eventually sailing home to Adelaide.

The journey will take me through some of the most remote and demanding waters on Earth.

There will be enormous seas, storms, freezing temperatures, long periods of isolation and plenty of moments when I'll probably wonder what on earth I was thinking!

But there will also be spectacular sunrises, endless horizons, magnificent wildlife and the extraordinary experience of sailing around the planet under wind power alone.

And I intend to share as much of that adventure as possible with everyone following along from home.

Why am I doing this?

I'm not setting out to prove that having a disability makes someone extraordinary.

I'm doing it because I love adventure, because I love sailing and because I believe there's still a great deal of life to be lived, regardless of the challenges we encounter along the way.

If the voyage encourages even one person facing a life-changing injury to look beyond what they've lost and start thinking about what's still possible, that would be a wonderful outcome.

Losing a limb isn't what defines you. How you deal with it is.

How you can help

Preparing Sea Dragon for a voyage of this magnitude is a substantial undertaking.

I've set an initial public fundraising target of $100,000 to help cover essential equipment, safety systems, sails, rigging, mechanical preparations, provisions and the many other requirements of a solo ocean circumnavigation.

I'm also seeking corporate sponsorship and equipment partnerships separately, with those contributions supporting the expedition in addition to public fundraising.

Every donation, large or small, will help bring the journey closer to reality.

And if donating isn't possible, simply sharing this page with friends, family or anyone who enjoys a good adventure would be enormously appreciated.

I'll be providing regular updates on the preparations, the refit, the challenges and eventually the voyage itself, so everyone who contributes can follow the adventure as it unfolds.

Come along for the adventure

This isn't going to be easy, and there are no guarantees.

There will be setbacks, difficult decisions and some very uncomfortable days at sea.

But that's all part of the adventure.

One sailor. One leg. One lap of the planet.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Cheers,

Tim Whitrow

Skipper, Sea Dragon

Adelaide, South Australia