![INTO OBLIVION](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5180/650286/60a26df483d51/INTO-OBLIVION.jpg)
In October 2017 Jerome Rand set sail single-handed from Gloucester, Massachusetts, in Mighty Sparrow. In June 2018 he cruised right back again, having circumnavigated the globe via the great Southern Ocean capes in his 43-year-old long-keeled, heavy displacement Westsail 32. In today’s climate of great fanfare and buckets-full of sponsorship money, it’s refreshing to read about a determined young man who will have nothing to do with any of this. Without access to any serious funds, he pays for his own adventure like a gentleman, then goes ahead and writes a book about it that is hard to put down. Beginning to read Sailing into Oblivion, there is an absolute minimum of preamble, soul-searching and description of what went before. He simply announces his intentions and gets on with it.
Rand’s frank description of the ups and downs of this truly great voyage is a treat. The way he sets aside what must have been heavy temptation to anchor and sort things out in New Zealand or, perhaps, the Falkland Islands, is an inspiration to anyone who, like me, has a history of succumbing to what seems at the time like common sense. Oh, and by the way, despite lack of support from any bank account but his own, Jerome succeeds in becoming the first solo American to circumnavigate non-stop from an American port in a boat of 32ft or less.
This extract finds him far away in the Southern Ocean, all alone in the fog, as distant from land is it’s possible to be. He has recently lost his stemhead forestay. Read on, and see how anything can be possible given the will to succeed.
As a broken Sparrow sailed its half-starved and half-crazed crew deeper into the empty Pacific, the fog became so overwhelming that the normal world seemed a distant memory. The winds calmed on 12 March and the plan for fixing the stay was put into action.
This story is from the June 2021 edition of Yachting World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2021 edition of Yachting World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![THE NEXT CHAPTER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/FIOdF7_Xq1720613293074/THE-NEXT-CHAPTER.jpg)
THE NEXT CHAPTER
THE ARCHETYPAL SCHOONER CRUISER-RACER IS BACK ON THE CARIBBEAN CIRCUIT. NIGEL SHARP JOINED ADELA'S CREW FOR ITS FIRST REGATTA IN FIVE YEARS, THE ANTIGUA SUPERYACHT CHALLENGE
![ZEMI FORM MEETS FUNCTION](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/aj5sutIhU1720612763487/ZEMI-FORM-MEETS-FUNCTION.jpg)
ZEMI FORM MEETS FUNCTION
MALCOLM MCKEON DELIGHTS IN THE CHANCE TO RACE HIS OWN DESIGN BALTIC 110 ZEMI AT THE ST BARTHS BUCKET.
![PEGASUS TAKES OFF](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/J0AdTkN9a1720612395739/PEGASUS-TAKES-OFF.jpg)
PEGASUS TAKES OFF
MIXING NEW AND PROVEN IDEAS, PEGASUS HAS CREATED A SHORTHANDED FAST BLUEWATER YACHT WITH A MARKED DIFFÉRENCE, AS TOBY HODGES DISCOVERS ON A TWO-DAY TEST SAIL
![A LONG WAY ROUND](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/VDJ9tYW6U1720611441293/A-LONG-WAY-ROUND.jpg)
A LONG WAY ROUND
THE OCEAN GLOBE RACE WAS ALL ABOUT BRINGING BACK THE SPIRIT OF THE EARLY WHITBREADS. ELAINE BUNTING FINDS OUT HOW THE CREWS FARED
![THE BIG OCEAN CLEAN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/l5RwJeRSQ1720611035482/THE-BIG-OCEAN-CLEAN.jpg)
THE BIG OCEAN CLEAN
AN AMBITIOUS PLAN IS SETTING OUT TO REMOVE PLASTIC FROM THE WORLD'S GREATEST OCEAN
![RING OF FIRE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/_OVld6qaA1720610709765/RING-OF-FIRE.jpg)
RING OF FIRE
A MEMORABLE PASSAGE FROM FIJI TO AUSTRALIA FOR KATE ASHE-LEONARD
![HALF WAY HEAVEN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/FwWbE995S1720608505005/HALF-WAY-HEAVEN.jpg)
HALF WAY HEAVEN
A FINAL PACIFIC PASSAGE FROM FRENCH POLYNESIA TO NEW ZEALAND TAKES THE SWAN 37 ELIXIR HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD
![THE ENDLESS OCEAN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/K_hy0uLjy1720608167536/THE-ENDLESS-OCEAN.jpg)
THE ENDLESS OCEAN
THE PACIFIC IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST OCEAN, BUT WITH SO MANY OPTIONS HOW DO YOU PLAN A ROUTE ACROSS? CRUISERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES
![NIKKI HENDERSON](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/buus-Ppx41720607813172/NIKKI-HENDERSON.jpg)
NIKKI HENDERSON
ALL YACHTS SHOULD HAVE THE MEANS TO GO ALOFT AT SEA AND A CREW MEMBER WILLING AND ABLE TO DO SO
![MATTHEW SHEAHAN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/5mFQY7FFp1720607508152/MATTHEW-SHEAHAN.jpg)
MATTHEW SHEAHAN
IT’S ALL SMILES FOR THE AMERICA’S CUP TEAMS AS THE BRAND NEW AC75 BOATS HIT THE WATER. BUT THE SERIOUS BUSINESS STARTS SOON...