Would You Let Your 16-yr Old Sail Solo Around the World?

It's fascinating the worlds that can be discovered when browsing through the used book bins of a garage sale. Having always been a fan of sea stories, I felt drawn to the paperback I held in my hand. The teaser line from the back was nearly irresistible: "In 1965, 16 year-old Robin Lee Graham began a solo, around-the-world voyage from San Pedro, California in a 24-ft sloop. Five years and 33,000 miles later he returned home with a wife and daughter. This book recounts the extraordinary adventures and experiences of the journey."

This particular book was written back in 1974 and told a tale that I'd never heard of. Of course, when Robin set sail, I was only 2-years old, so I missed out on the National Geographic coverage that he was given during his years out on the water. Still, thanks to this book, I felt like I was reliving the voyage with this young sailor and his two kittens. And young? He left California alone at the age of sixteen. Sixteen! That still boggles my mind.

Alone? Around the world?

I thought back to how alone I felt as a lost teenager in Turkey. Could I have circumnavigated the world by myself at the age of sixteen? Not likely. Though I enjoy sea stories -- as well as writing them (see my fictional short story, The Rescue) -- I almost certainly lack the nautical prowess to attend to a sailboat, especially when the storms come. And in Robin's case, the storms came.

Interestingly, it wasn't just the storms of the world's oceans and weather that assailed young Robin. He also experienced a profound sense of loneliness. The tape recorder that he used to log his progress would even become a constant aural friend; and he'd often replay his own voice just to bring a semblance of human touch - a reminder that he wasn't the only human left on the earth. From California to Hawaii and then onto Fanning Island and beyond, his sailboat, Dove, sailed on.

When he met the friendly natives of the Polynesians and the Vavau island group, I was enthralled. Robin's observation on the people's friendliness -- "They know how to make their own happiness." I like that.

In any good adventure, there should be someone you share it with. In Robin's case, two years into the voyage, he would meet that special someone: Patti. I found myself deeply touched by their love for one another. And when they exchanged their vows and devotion for one another in Africa while sitting on a sunny, Durban beach, I felt like cheering. (The scene reminded me of the movie, Braveheart, where Wallace declares his love for Murron.) Patti would attempt to travel ahead of Robin so that she'd be there to meet him, thus allowing Robin to keep sailing alone. Because Robin carried no radio (hard to believe, isn't it?) sometimes various rumors would arise that Dove had been lost at sea. I can only imagine how Patti must have felt as she would take up residence near the sea where she could watch and wait for her young husband to come sailing over the horizon.

Robin's voyage ended on April 30, 1970. It had taken him 1,739 days to complete the voyage. He returned to the same port from which he'd left. Though he had endured the demastings of Dove; a freighter that nearly ran him over; a ferocious Indian Ocean storm that nearly swallowed his craft; crushing loneliness; and the loss of his beloved cats - his 30,600 nautical mile trip had returned him to his smiling Patti.

"Why did you do it?"

Eventually, from the dock, a crowd of reporters would ask, "Why did you do it?" That was a question Robin seemed to always struggle to answer.

Robin's words: "There were many reasons. I didn't like school - but that's not unique. I wanted to look at the world, at people and places, without being a tourist. I wanted personal freedom. I wanted to know if I could do something alone-something really difficult. But somewhere deep in my mind I felt there was another reason and that it had something to do with fate and destiny. How could I phrase that? How could I tell these newsmen that I had sailed across the world because I had to do so-because that was what I was meant to do?"

I can relate to that -- the searching -- that knowing deep down about what you're supposed to do. God has given me some awesome "guided" moments like that too.

So, imagine my surprise, when on page 195 -- of this 199 page book - something happened to Robin and Patti while they finalized the sale of Dove. Robin begins by saying, "The most important thing that happened to us during our brief return to Los Angeles is really hard to put into words." They were invited to visit a new kind of church. Robin continues, "The people who spoke talked about God and Jesus as if they were real and contemporary and living, and not just stained glass images. We didn't at first want to believe anything because we feared that religion would complicate our lives. But the young people, especially, seemed to have a faith and a hope and a love that we envied."

Ever encountered that kind of thing before? Those kinds of people? I have.

Some have criticized the book as being too aimless, too full of lonely tears and a pining away for Patti. I think those critics need to remember something: this is a true story. True stories don't always have easily sewn up plots, or even happy endings. But as I turned the last page, I have this sneaky suspicion deep down that Robin's newest adventure was only about to begin. It might not have pitching decks, salt spray and straining sails, but that doesn't diminish the adrenaline, the rush of life.

Thank you, Robin. I feel like you have taken me along with you on your amazing trip. Your tale, indeed, had some despairing moments, just like real life. But your story also hints at a joyful end; a safe and deep harbor that we apparently share.

Anchors away.

God speed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Other Nautical articles by Ron Masters:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

► Masts, Sails, and Sky - Sailing on the Tall Ship, Manitou - ( Click here )
► The Sinking of the School Ship S/V Concordia - ( Click here )
► The Sinking of the School Ship Albatross - ( Click here )
► History's Worst Maritime Disaster - 10,000 Deaths on a Single Ship ( Click here )
► The Rescue - fictional short story involving a tall ship ( Click here )
► The Search for 12 Lost Submarines from Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea - (Click Here)