Around the World in 80 Days: A fantastic novel that was originally released, in French, in 1872 (with an English volume published in 1873). Jules Verne, the author, took the reader on a grand adventure, travelling across the world as fast as possible.

We’re using Verne’s concept in our blog today; we’re answering this question for all our sailing fans! How long does it take to see the world, by only using the sea? Let’s find out…

The Journey or the Destination?

Probably the most important question to consider is, what is our goal here? Do we want to see the world, or do we want to go as quickly as possible?

If you’re taking the latter approach, then we can give you a pretty good and straightforward answer; 42 days is one of the top times currently. This incredible voyage was completed by a trimaran vessel.

Also known as a double-outrigger, the trimaran is a boat that comprises 3 total hulls – two small and a larger main hull – which helps the boat go faster. They are used often for recreational boat racers, but they can go very quickly with the right captain! Realistically, however, you’re should prepare for a 15-month voyage.

As quick as 15 months is, there isn’t much sightseeing involved when you’re racing against the clock. Much like the trimaran, you’re achieving a record time more than having a life-changing experience.

If you want to sail around the world and take all the gorgeous views along the way, then we’re going to have to do a little more digging. Sailing around the world is a very achievable goal in today’s age; it’s just a question of the route you want to take to do it.

Focusing on the big picture, taking into account your speed and how much time you’re likely looking to spend in each place you stop, you’re looking at somewhere in the region of 3 to 5 years; consider the scale of this adventure and that’s a pretty good time!

So, we know how long it’s going to take – which is great – but we’ve now got to figure out how to bring the plan together. Luckily, we’ve come prepared for that question.

Calling all Sailors!

There are two main ways to do the voyage, which are slightly more general; we’ll get into some more interesting methods later on.

The first is to save up for a boat and sail around yourself! Bonus points if you grab some friends to come with you, especially for your wallet. If you can get a group of friends (between 4-6) together, with the same desire as you, you could buy a good boat and do the trip for around £115,000 each. It can be done for less if you’re savvy, but this is a round figure to aim for.

Saving up for that kind of investment can be a challenge, so joining a crew is also an option. If you’ve got sailing experience, and you don’t mind doing some work on board, this is a sensible route to take. If you’re tackling the adventure solo, this is probably the way you want to be thinking.

There are many ways you can approach this, however. There are, after all, a myriad of jobs that can be found at sea! These may include cruiseliners – which offer plenty in the way of entertainment, catering, and other labour-focused jobs – or even joining a family on a voyage to tutor their children if teaching is one of your skills. If the kitchens of a cruiseliner don’t entice you, then you might prefer being a chef for a smaller crew.

The possibilities truly are endless!