Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation is the complete navigation around an entire island, continent, or astronomical body (e.g. a planet or moon). This article focuses on the circumnavigation of Earth.
The first circumnavigation of the Earth was the
Etymology
The word circumnavigation is a noun formed from the verb circumnavigate, from the past participle of the Latin verb circumnavigare,[2] from circum "around" + navigare "to sail".[3]
Definition
A person walking completely around either pole will cross all meridians, but this is not generally considered a "circumnavigation". The path of a true (global) circumnavigation forms a continuous loop on the surface of Earth separating two regions of comparable area.[citation needed] A basic definition of a global circumnavigation would be a route which covers roughly a great circle, and in particular one which passes through at least one pair of points antipodal to each other.[4] In practice, people use different definitions of world circumnavigation to accommodate practical constraints, depending on the method of travel. Since the planet is quasispheroidal, a trip from one Pole to the other, and back again on the other side, would technically be a circumnavigation. There are practical difficulties (namely, the Arctic ice pack and the Antarctic ice sheet) in such a voyage, although it was successfully undertaken in the early 1980s by Ranulph Fiennes.[5]
History
The first circumnavigation was that of the ship Victoria between 1519 and 1522, now known as the
The next to circumnavigate the globe were the survivors of the Castilian/Spanish expedition of
In 1577,
Thomas Cavendish completed his circumnavigation between 1586 and 1588 in record time—in two years and 49 days, nine months faster than Drake. It was also the first deliberately planned voyage of the globe.[9]
Captain James Cook became the first navigator to record three circumnavigations through the Pacific aboard the Endeavour from 1769 to 1779. He was among the first to complete west–east circumnavigation in high latitudes.
For the wealthy, long voyages around the world, such as was done by Ulysses S. Grant, became possible in the 19th century, and the two World Wars moved vast numbers of troops around the planet. However, it was the rise of commercial aviation in the late 20th century that made circumnavigation, when compared to the Magellan–Elcano expedition, quicker and safer.[1]
Nautical
The nautical global and fastest circumnavigation record is currently held by a wind-powered vessel, the trimaran
Wind powered
The map on the right shows, in red, a typical, non-competitive, route for a
In
For around the world sailing records, there is a rule saying that the length must be at least 21,600 nautical miles calculated along the shortest possible track from the starting port and back that does not cross land and does not go below 63°S. It is allowed to have one single waypoint to lengthen the calculated track. The equator must be crossed.[13]
The solo wind powered circumnavigation record of 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds was established by François Gabart on the maxi-multihull sailing yacht MACIF and completed on 7 December 2017.[14] The voyage followed the North Atlantic Ocean, Equator, South Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean, Equator, North Atlantic Ocean route in an easterly direction.
Mechanically powered
Since the advent of world cruises in 1922, by Cunard's Laconia, thousands of people have completed circumnavigations of the globe at a more leisurely pace. Typically, these voyages begin in New York City or Southampton, and proceed westward. Routes vary, either travelling through the Caribbean and then into the Pacific Ocean via the Panama Canal, or around Cape Horn. From there ships usually make their way to Hawaii, the islands of the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, then northward to Hong Kong, South East Asia, and India. At that point, again, routes may vary: one way is through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean; the other is around Cape of Good Hope and then up the west coast of Africa. These cruises end in the port where they began.[11]
In 1960, the American nuclear-powered submarine USS Triton circumnavigated the globe in 60 days, 21 hours for Operation Sandblast.
The current circumnavigation record in a powered boat of 60 days 23 hours and 49 minutes
Aviation
In 1922
Since the development of commercial aviation, there are regular routes that circle the globe, such as
The first lighter-than-air aircraft of any type to circumnavigate under its own power was the rigid airship LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin, which did so in 1929.[citation needed]
Aviation records take account of the wind circulation patterns of the world; in particular the jet streams, which circulate in the northern and southern hemispheres without crossing the equator. There is therefore no requirement to cross the equator, or to pass through two antipodal points, in the course of setting a round-the-world aviation record.
For powered aviation, the course of a round-the-world record must start and finish at the same point and cross all meridians; the course must be at least 36,770 kilometres (19,850 nmi) long (which is approximately the length of the Tropic of Cancer). The course must include set control points at latitudes outside the Arctic and Antarctic circles.[17]
In ballooning, which is at the mercy of the winds, the requirements are even more relaxed. The course must cross all meridians, and must include a set of checkpoints which are all outside of two circles, chosen by the pilot, having radii of 3,335.85 kilometres (2,072.80 mi) and enclosing the poles (though not necessarily centred on them).[18] For example, Steve Fossett's global circumnavigation by balloon was entirely contained within the southern hemisphere.[11]
Astronautics
The first person to fly in space, Yuri Gagarin, also became the first person to complete an orbital spaceflight in the Vostok 1 spaceship within 2 hours on April 12 1961.[19] The flight started at 63° E, 45 N and ended at 45° E 51° N; thus Gagarin did not circumnavigate Earth completely.
Gherman Titov in the Vostok 2 was the first human to fully circumnavigate Earth in spaceflight and made 17.5 orbits on August 6, 1961.
Human-powered
According to adjudicating bodies Guinness World Records and Explorersweb, Jason Lewis completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe on 6 October 2007.[20][21] This was part of a thirteen-year journey entitled Expedition 360.
In 2012, Turkish-born American adventurer Erden Eruç completed the first entirely solo human-powered circumnavigation, travelling by rowboat, sea kayak, foot and bicycle from 10 July 2007 to 21 July 2012,[22] crossing the equator twice, passing over 12 antipodal points, and logging 66,299 kilometres (41,196 mi)[23] in 1,026 days of travel time, excluding breaks.[24]
National Geographic lists Colin Angus as being the first to complete a human-powered global circumnavigation in 2006.[25] However, his journey did not cross the equator or hit the minimum of two antipodal points as stipulated by the rules of Guinness World Records and AdventureStats by Explorersweb.[26][27][28]
People have both bicycled and run around the world, but the oceans have had to be covered by air or sea travel, making the distance shorter than the Guinness guidelines.[
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2017) |
Maritime
- The Magellan-Elcano expedition of August 1519 to 8 September 1522, started by Portuguese navigator Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan) and completed by Spanish Basque navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano after Magellan's death, was the first global circumnavigation[30][31] (see Victoria).
- The survivors of García Jofre de Loaísa's Spanish expedition 1525–1536, including Andrés de Urdanetaand Hans von Aachen, who was also one of the 18 survivors of Magellan's expedition, making him the first to circumnavigate the world twice.
- Francis Drake carried out the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition (and on a single independent voyage), from 1577 to 1580.[32]
- Jeanne Baret is the first woman to complete a voyage of circumnavigation, in 1766–1769.[33][34]
- John Hunter commanded the first ship to circumnavigate the World starting from Australia, between 2 September 1788 and 8 May 1789, with one stop in Cape Town to load supplies for the colony of New South Wales.[35]
- HMS Driver completed the first circumnavigation by a steam ship in 1845–1847.
- The Spanish frigate ironcladin 1865–1867.
- Joshua Slocum completed the first single-handed circumnavigation in 1895–1898.
- In 1942, Vito Dumas became the first person to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe along the Roaring Forties.
- In 1960, the U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine USS Triton (SSRN-586) completed the submerged circumnavigation.
- In 1969, Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to complete a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation.
- In 1999, Jesse Martin became the youngest recognized person to complete an unassisted, non-stop, circumnavigation, at the age of 18.
- In 2001, the U.S. Coast Guard USCGC Sherman (WHEC-720) became the first Coast Guard vessel to circumnavigate the globe.
- In 2012, solar electric vehicle to circumnavigate the globe.[36]
- In 2012, Laura Dekker became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed, with stops, at the age of 16.
- In 2017, trimaran IDEC 3 with sailors: Francis Joyon, Alex Pella, Clément Surtel, Gwénolé Gahinet, Sébastien Audigane and Bernard Stamm completes the fastest circumnavigation of the globe ever; in 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds. The voyage followed the North Atlantic Ocean, Equator, South Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean, Equator, North Atlantic Ocean route in an easterly direction.
- In 2022, the MV Astra, a former Swedish Sea Rescue Society ship became the first sub-24m motor-powered vessel to circumnavigate the globe via the southern capes.[37][38]
Aviation
- United States Army Air Service, 1924, first aerial circumnavigation, 175 days, covering 44,360 kilometres (27,560 mi), with examples of the Douglas World Cruiser biplane.
- In 1949, the Lucky Lady II, a Boeing B-50 Superfortress of the U.S. Air Force, commanded by Captain James Gallagher, became the first aeroplane to circle the world non-stop (by refueling the plane in flight). Total time airborne was 94 hours and one minute.
- In 1957, three United States Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses made the first non-stop jet-aircraft circumnavigation in 45 hours and 19 minutes, with two in-air refuelings.
- In 1964, Geraldine "Jerrie" Mock was the first woman to fly solo around the world.
- In 1986, Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager made the first non-refueled circumnavigation in an airplane (Rutan Voyager), in 9 days, 3 minutes and 44 seconds.
- In 1999, Breitling Orbiter 3.
- In 2002, Steve Fossett, after flying on the Spirit of Freedom balloon gondola, became the first person to fly around the world alone, nonstop in any kind of aircraft. Fossett's sole source of aid was a control center in Brookings Hall of Washington University in St. Louis.
- In 2005, Steve Fossett, flying a Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, set the current record for fastest aerial circumnavigation (first non-stop, non-refueled solo circumnavigation in an airplane) in 67 hours, covering 37,000 kilometers.
- In 2014, Matt Guthmiller became the youngest person to solo circumnavigate by air at age 19 years, 7 months, and 15 days.[39]
- In 2016, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg completed the first solar-powered aircraft circumnavigation of the world in Solar Impulse 2.
- In 2020, One More Orbit[40] completed the fastest circumnavigation via both geographic poles in a Gulfstream G650ER.[41]
- In 2020, Robert DeLaurentis and his twin-engine aircraft "Citizen of the World" became the first pilot and plane to successfully use biofuels over the North and South poles.
Land
- In 1841–1842 Sir George Simpsonmade the first "land circumnavigation", crossing Canada and Siberia and returning to London.
- Ranulph Fiennes and Charlie Burton are credited with the first north–south circumnavigation of the Earth.[5]
Human
- On 13 June 2003, Robert Garside completed the first recognized run around the world, taking 5+1⁄2 years; the run was authenticated in 2007 by Guinness World Records after five years of verification.[42][43]
- On 6 October 2007, Jason Lewis completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe (including human-powered sea crossings).[20][21]
- On 21 July 2012, Erden Eruç completed the first entirely solo human-powered circumnavigation of the globe.[22][23]
See also
References
- ^ a b Howie, Cherie (27 January 2018). "Kiwi airline exec breaks record for world circumnavigation on commercial airlines". New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- ^ The dictionary definition of circumnavigare#Latin at Wiktionary
- ^ Harper, Douglas. "circumnavigate". Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ "Definition of a Circumnavigation". Expedition360.com. 28 September 1924. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ a b "1982: First Surface Circumnavigation via both Geographical Poles". Guinness World Records. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Humble, Richard (1978). The Seafarers – The Explorers. Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books.
- ISBN 1-4286-2255-1
- ^ Martinic, Mateo (1977). Historia del Estrecho de Magallanes (in Spanish). Santiago: Andrés Bello. pp. 67–68.
- ISBN 0-671-74919-6.
- ^ "The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Recordwork". World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSR). Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Circumnavigations". www.solarnavigator.net. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "ISAF/World Sailing Speed Record Rules for individually attempted Passage Records or Performances Offshore, sec. 26.1.a, Record Courses". Sailspeedrecords.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ "ISAF/World Sailing Speed Record Rules for individually attempted Passage Records or Performances Offshore". Sailspeedrecords.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ "François Gabart: French sailor slashes around the world solo record". BBC News. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ Recordsuimpowerboating.com Archived 14 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 0-370-00065-X.
- ^ "FAI Sporting Code Section 2: Powered Aerodynes: Speed around the world non-stop and non-refuelled". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ "FAI Sporting Code Section 1: Aerostats: Around-the-World Records". Fai.org. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011.
- ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov.
- ^ a b Guinness World Records (6 October 2007). "Human Powered Circumnavigations" (PDF).
- ^ a b "Global HPC—Human Powered Circumnavigations". AdventureStats. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Guinness World Records – First solo circumnavigation of the globe using human power". Guinness World Records. 21 July 2012. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Media Kit – Project Summary Document" (PDF). Around-n-Over (PDF file linked from "around-n-over.org/media/mediakit.htm"). 22 August 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ "Around the World in 1,026 Days". Outside Magazine (online edition). 1 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ Duane, Daniel (2007). "Adventurers of the Year: The New Magellans". National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ "Jason Lewis version of circumnavigation". Expedition360.com. 28 September 1924. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ "Erden Eruc version of circumnavigation". Around-n-over.org. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ Wafaei, Julie; Angus, Colin. "Colin Angus version of circumnavigation". Angusadventures.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ "First circumnavigation by walking". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ISBN 9781877802454. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-486-28099-8.[page needed]
- ISBN 978-0-312-34165-7.
- ISBN 978-0-908708-54-3
- ISBN 978-0-307-46352-4
- ^ Hunter, John, An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island, John Stockdale, London, 1793
- ^ Webster, Andrew (4 May 2012). "PlanetSolar completes first solar-powered boat trip around the globe". The Verge. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ "Iain Macneil and converted lifeboat MV Astra set new world record". Motorboat & Yachting. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Merritt, Mike. "Sailor Iain Macneil's epic global voyage sets record". The Times. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ Penberthy, Natsumi (17 July 2014). "Teen makes youngest round-the-world solo flight". Australian Geographic. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Flight crew breaks record for circumnavigating globe via both poles". CNN. 11 July 2019.
- ^ "Fastest circumnavigation via both Poles by aeroplane". 11 July 2019.
- ^ "The first fully-authenticated run around the world record has just been accepted" (PDF) (Press release). Guinness World Records.
Although Robert's record attempt finished in 2003, it has taken 5 years to collate and confirm the record evidence [...] We are very cautious to accept records like this because they are difficult to certify, however Robert has provided us with full evidence which enabled us to authenticate his amazing achievement. We initially evaluated 15 boxes full of credit card statements, receipts in Robert's name and other useful evidence, which supported Robert's presence in all of the 29 countries within the time specified. We then moved on to establish whether Robert had actually been running and started to look through an astronomical number of pictures and newspaper cuttings from different parts of Robert's route. We also reviewed over 300 time-coded tapes featuring Robert running at different locations during his journey. We could finally double check the route followed through statements from several witnesses, and passports stamps and visas...
- ^ "The first fully authenticated run around the world record has just been accepted" (PDF) (Press release). Guinness World records. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
Further reading
- Joyce E. Chaplin (2013). Round About the Earth: Circumnavigation from Magellan to Orbit. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1416596202.
External links
- Round the world overland travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Round the world flights travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Route of the first circumnavigation in Google Maps and Earth