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    Wednesday, February 11
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    Plymouth sailor home after nine-year round-world odyssey

    saiphnewsBy No Comments3 Mins Read


    Jonathan Morris & John Danks

    BBC News South West

    BBC The picture shows a person standing on a sailing boat, wearing a cap and a life jacket. They're positioned near the cockpit area, surrounded by sailing equipment including ropes and sails. In the background, you can see water and a few other boats in the distance.BBC

    Barry Perrins’ motto was: “I’ll keep going and see where I end up”

    After nine years away Barry Perrins has returned to Plymouth, completing a remarkable solo journey around the world which has seen him sail 30,000 miles (48,300km).

    The 68-year-old ex-lifeboatman set off in June 2016 on his 36ft (11m) sailing boat White Shadow of Poole, chasing a childhood dream.

    His motto: “I’ll keep going and see where I end up.”

    What followed was an odyssey which took him from Portugal across the North Atlantic to the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, and into the vast Pacific Ocean.

    This picture shows a small sailing boat with a person aboard. Just behind it, an orange RNLI rescue vessel is spraying water toward the sailboat. The background features several other boats and yachts, with a coastline of hills and buildings.

    Barry Perrins on his 36ft sailing boat is welcomed home by an RNLI crew

    At one point, he was declared missing for 71 days before being spotted by a French Air Sea Rescue aircraft and reappearing on the island of Hiva Oa in French Polynesia.

    “It’s a tour,” he said. “You take your time.

    “There’s lots of people to meet, lots of restaurants serving good food, all kinds of things. So I spent a lot of time stopped as well as sailing.

    “And then, of course, Covid happened. So I spent a year-and-a-half in New Zealand, which was no hard thing. New Zealand’s a lovely country.”

    Red Air Media This picture shows a sailing boat moored at a dock with solar panels on the deck of the sailboat. Various pieces of equipment are visible, such as lifebuoys and ropes. Colourful flags are hanging from the mast and there are several people on the dock.Red Air Media

    The journey was documented for 128,000 YouTube followers

    His sister Tina, who had not seen him for seven years, was among those welcoming him home.

    “It was very emotional when he went off,” she said.

    “He was quite green, I think. And he’s come back an amazing person – a different person, an experienced person.”

    Mr Perrins’ voyage wasn’t without peril. He faced life-threatening decisions, unpredictable weather, and moments of deep uncertainty.

    “There were times when I knew that, if I didn’t make the right decision within the next few seconds, I would be dead,” he said.

    “When I heard myself say: ‘I don’t know what to do,’ I knew I was in big trouble.”

    He only called for help once, off the coast of north east Australia.

    This picture shows three people near a waterfront. In the foreground, a person with gray hair wearing a white shirt is being hugged by another individual. In the background, a third person with a white beard, wearing a red shirt and black cap, is gesturing or pointing.

    Barry Perrins is reunited with sister Tina who had not seen him for seven years

    Throughout his journey, Mr Perrins documented his experiences on his YouTube channel, Adventures of an Old Seadog, with more than 30 million views and 128,000 subscribers.

    Follower Pippa Winkworth, who was on the dock waiting for him with other fans, said: “I’ve seen him through the ups and the downs, and I think there were downs where maybe he thought of throwing the towel in.

    “So it was lovely to see him coming back in with the RNLI.”

    Now back in Plymouth, Mr Perrins is enjoying the comforts of home, but not for long.

    He said he was already planning his next adventure: a sailing tour around the UK next year.

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