- Bill Hatfield becomes oldest man to sail around the world solo, non-stop and unassisted
After four attempts, Bill Hatfield has become the oldest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.
The 81-year-old completed his eight-month journey on Saturday morning, sailing into The Spit on the Gold Coast in his 38-foot yacht L'Eau Commotion.
He was greeted at Southport Yacht Club by cheering friends and family who said they had anxiously followed his journey since he set off on June 8.
The former fisherman from Bundaberg said he'd been dreaming of this achievement since he was seven years old.
As he celebrated, occasionally having to grab onto something secure to steady himself from the rocking sensation, he was humble about his success.
"Coming back, there were three cyclones, two of them quite strong, but they just passed me by.
"For fresh water I had a desalinator that pumps through a membrane, and my daily diet was a third of a tin of beans, a tin of tuna, 100 grams of rice and flour and oats, and 150 grams of milk powder."
He said the first thing he wanted to do back on dry land was to have some fresh food and a shower.
His daughter Katherine Lambros said she felt relieved and excited he that he'd finally achieved his goal.
"You say goodbye to him and you honestly think you're never going to see him again," she said.
"When Dad first told me he was thinking of doing this, I knew he'd keep going on to achieve it.": https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-...world/11991436 - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/video...lo/vp-BB10hw01
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