The Class Globe 5.80 would not be described by some sailors as the ideal boat to race around the world. At just 5.8m (19ft) long and 2.27m (7ft 5in) wide, the boat is a far cry from the 40ft-plus multihulls and monohulls that most skippers would gravitate towards for offshore adventures.
But the idea of ocean sailing in small boats is nothing new. In the 1950s, John Guzzwell proved that sub-21ft boats were capable of circumnavigating the world.
Inspired by the likes of Harry Pidgeons and Joshua Slocum, Guzzwell spent £50 on a set of Jack Laurent Giles plans for a 6.27m (20ft 6in) yawl.
A carpenter, he built Trekka, using only hand tools, launching the boat in August 1954. His first long solo voyage on Trekka was to Hawaii, via San Francisco, in September 1955; he continued sailing for another four years, covering 33,000 miles.
Guzzwell's subsequent book, Trekka Around the World, is seen by many as one of the greatest small boat stories of all time, and details the build of the boat, cruising in company with Miles and Beryl Smeeton, crossing the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, transiting the Panama Canal and sailing back to Victoria, British Columbia, via Hawaii in 1959.
Home build
Now Adam Waugh, 59, is hoping to follow - partially-in Trekka's wake.
The RYA Cruising Instructor and Yachtmaster Offshore is currently building his Class Globe 5.80 in a barn near to his Northumberland home ahead of the 2025 Mini Globe Race.
It's the first boat he has ever built, and he began construction in February 2022 after buying the plans for €300.
A year later, and the boat's hull has been turned and he is in the process of fitting the interior.
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Practical Boat Owner.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Practical Boat Owner.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A sailor's guide to UK sharks and fish
Genevieve Leaper looks at some of the shark species around the British and Irish coasts and how to spot these fish from your boat
Multihull anchoring
Brush up on your multihull sailing skills before heading off on a holiday charter with Gavin Le Sueur's guide to anchoring
A revolution in fabrics
Marine fabrics are using natural fibres, less harmful chemicals and longer-lasting colours. Jake Kavanagh looks at the cut of the cloth
Shoestring voyage of adventure
Richard King and Serafin Colmenares Jr. look back at the remarkable Pacific voyage of Florentino Das in his 24ft home-built boat
A fine day out with a visitor
Six hours afloat and a guided tour to vindicate a fictional sailing heroine's navigational skills
Boats for Baltic cruising
Duncan Kent picks the best sub-40ft sail and power boats for crossing the North Sea and exploring a Baltic summer
Boatyard life
The tide of the year Is rising. Time for work
Weather or not to go sailing
Ignore the apps: it's much safer to swear by the weather wisdom of a local oracle
The angelic East Coast pocket cruiser
It is 100 years since the first Deben Cherub was launched. Julia Jones looks back at the history of this 21ft river racing class
Best anchor types for varied cruising
Rupert Holmes on choosing the best anchor for your boat, your style of cruising, how you’ll use it and your budget