Coronavirus: Round the world in 10 ways, but it was never anything like this

Sailing legend Jon Sanders has arrived back in Australia as he nears the completion of his record 11th circumnavigation of the world.

Police escort Jon Sanders for a virus test on Thursday. Picture: John Wilson

Sailing legend Jon Sanders has arrived back in Australia as he nears the completion of his record 11th circumnavigation of the world.

Both the 81-year-old Sanders and his yacht The Perie Banou II arrived in Bundaberg on Thursday somewhat worse for wear after being battered by a series of storms on his way from Tahiti.

Sanders completed the latest leg of the journey with suspected broken ribs and without the use of a motor or electronics after navigating through what his team said were some of the worst ocean conditions he had seen.

Stephen Davis, the project co-ordinator for the voyage, told The Australian that Sanders had barely had any sleep during the past few days. “He is knackered. He’s just been through three crackerjack storms. He says he hasn’t seen weather like this for the past three decades,” Dr Davis said.

“All his electronics were knocked out, no motor, so he was down to just pure sailing with a sextant and some wet charts.”

Before leaving Tahiti, the veteran decided to add a third bilge pump — a move that proved timely. “He had all three pumping madly to try to keep the water down as the waves were crashing t over the boat,” Dr Davis said.

“He takes it all in his stride. There’s not much to do other than strap yourself into your bunk to be prepared in case you get rolled over.”

Mr Sanders has received a COVID-19 quarantine exemption subject to testing negative for the coronavirus. He will remain aboard his yacht until he receives the result of his test.

He set sail from Fremantle last November, and the coronavirus pandemic has meant this voyage was like none of his other 10.

 

He spent six weeks stuck on his yacht in a lagoon in Saint Martin, before he managed — with the help of the Australian Consulate in Panama — to secure a COVID-free crew to help him navigate through the Panama Canal. He left Tahiti after the island suffered an outbreak, and was forced to bypass New Caledonia after it closed itself off to shipping.

He has also been collecting water samples each day as part of a study with Curtin University and Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation to establish a baseline of microplastic levels in the world’s oceans.

Dr Davis said he expected Mr Sanders to remain in Bundaberg for two to three weeks before resuming his voyage.

“He’s got some repairs to do to the boat and some repairs to do to himself,” he said.

“We will get that all in place, and then he will set sail from Bundaberg and down the east coast of Australia,” he said.

He is expected to arrive back at Fremantle in mid-January.