So, this is it! Are you dreaming of sailing around the world? Are you passionate about the idea of being aboard, traveling overseas, and exploring the gems of our planet? Then you’ve come to the right place! Although it is hard to accurately answer this question, I will try my best to give you some information and advice on this matter. And so, how are you going to do this? Let’s assume that you’re an experienced sailor, but do you have your own sailboat? Are you traveling alone or with friends and family? Also, what kind of sailboat do you have? Which route are you going to take? For how long are you planning to sail around the world?

Don’t worry, I’m going to answer all of these questions and much more, in order to help you clarify this question.

Setting Your Goals

Firstly, you have to determine your goals and set things straight. For example, if your goal is about doing a complete circumnavigation, you must sail around all three capes, i.e. Africa’s Cape, Australia’s Cape, and South America’s. If this is your plan then keep in mind the nautical miles. For this voyage, you’re going to add 3,000 NM to your travel distance. However, if you want to discover the world, meet new places and people then it would be better to avoid the capes. Like this, you’ll have more time to explore the coastal areas. But if safety is what matters most to you, then try to avoid the Indian Ocean. In this case, you won’t pass the Suez Canal and you’ll have to do a big detour around the Cape of Good Hope.

And, What About the Duration?

In order to set things straight, there’s no specific amount for days. Each individual has its own pace and each sailboat its own speed and capabilities. For each one of us, there are different ways of sailing and organizing a sailing route. But let’s examine some common styles that will help you determine which one to choose in order to sail around the world.

• Fast-paced sailing: This would take you 1 to 2 years, on average. You avoid long breaks and you just sail for the most part of the voyage. If you’re “in a hurry”, prefer to just explore the seas and live the experience of sailing then this kind of sailing suits you best.
• How Long Would It Take to Sail Around the World Without Stopping? Nonstop Sailing: This is a kind of sailing voyage that would take you a maximum of 1 year. However, if you do this then keep in mind that you’ll limit your stops inland and maximize the days on the sea. Also, your sailing speed would be around 37 km/h.
• Take-your-time sailing: As you may understand, this kind of sailing allows you to stay in a place for at least 7 days. This way you’ll have more time to experience a place, meet the locals, sightseeing or even go hiking!
• Enjoy the fast-paced sailing: This would allow approximately 3 to 4 days to stay in a place. It’s like taking a flight and having 24 hours stopover to a city. You can explore the whereabouts but you won’t be able to explore the culture and the place you’re visiting. Furthermore, your circumnavigation will be completed in approximately 3-5 years.

How Fast Can You Sail?

Sailboats usually cruise at 4-5 knots (9 km/h or 5 mph) for 24 hours a day and they cover up to 100 nautical miles a day. However, larger sailboats of 40 ft (12 m) cruise at 8 knots (15 km/h or 9 mph), therefore they cover up to 180 nautical miles a day. But all these are just common figures. The speed certainly depends on the skills and experience of each sailor. For example, an amateur that’s been sailing for one year and a world record holder will show different sailing performance. In any case, the average person would need approximately 3.5 years to sail around the world.

There are some people though that have sailed around the world in less than 50 days! And notice this: All of them chose to sail eastwards. Keep in mind that conditions in the water affect the outcome, way more than being on the road. In other words, the route you’re going to choose not only determines the distance, but also the current, hurricanes, the strength of the winds, and other factors. And that’s why the westward route can be more challenging.

Possible Sailing Routes Around The World

So, another important aspect, of course, is the route you’re going to choose. But what exactly does it mean to sail around the world? It means starting from point A, sail in one direction, and then return back to point A. In order to do this, you can choose between two different directions, going eastwards or westwards. Another decision that you have to make is if you’re going to sail around the capes. Most people don’t mind, because the best sailing is in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and South Pacific. So, they just pass by the Panama and Suez Canal. However, in case you choose to go around the capes, the distance will be increased by about 15%, which will also augment your timeframe. If you want to pass through the canals, there’s a shorter route which is called the trade wind route. So, let’s see the most usual westward sailing routes:

• Meditteranean Sea, through Suez Canal and Gibraltar.
• North Atlantic: from Gibraltar to the Caribbean.
• Indian Ocean: from Australia to the Maldives and the Red Sea.
• South Pacific: from Tahiti to Sydney.
• South Pacific: from the Caribbean through Panama to Tahiti.

And, the most usual eastward sailing routes:

• Meditteranean Sea: Gibraltar through Suez Canal.
• North Atlantic: from the Caribbean to the Azores and Gibraltar.
• Indian Ocean: from the Red Sea to Maldives and Australia.
• South Pacific: from Sydney to Tahiti.
• South Pacific: from the Tahiti to Panama and the Caribbean.

Last but not least, remember that if you sail around all three capes then the distance is 27,000 NM. In case you skip the capes then the distance is 24,000 NM. The difference of 3,000 NM means an extra 3 months of sailing.

Summary

So, how long does it really take to sail around the world? It depends! Let’s say that you’re on a 40 feet yacht, this could take from 1 to 7 years, depending on how much money and time you have. Most people that sail around the world need an average of 3.5 years. Also, most sailors pass through the Panama Canal, in order to avoid Cape Horn. The important thing is to take your time and visit different countries because this is where the real adventure starts!