Curtin University has used social media to recreate Jon Sanders’ 1986 – 1988 world-record breaking solo triple circumnavigation of the globe, 30 years after he first set sail.
Ms Catherine Clark, Project Leader, said the Triple Solo Sailor blog will draw upon the Project Endeavour Collection held by Curtin University Library, which includes scientific data, yacht diagrams, photos and documents about Sanders’ voyage.
“The Triple Solo Sailor blog will feature logbook data, pictures and footage taken on the voyage by Jon Sanders. It will allow people from all around the world to follow his journey from Fremantle Port, Western Australia, for the 658 days it took him to complete the record breaking trip,” Ms Clark said.
“The blog is a unique way to share the Project Endeavour Collection and the way we have designed the blog makes it feel as if Jon Sanders is posting daily updates on his voyage from 30 years ago.”
The Curtin University Library is excited to be trialling this new approach to sharing the Collection and will also be exhibiting the original logbooks and other materials until 2018.
“Jon Sanders was made a Curtin University Fellow in 1998 and we are pleased to celebrate his long connection with the University through this commemoration of his epic voyage,” said Ms Clark.
The Project Endeavour Collection was donated by Emeritus Professor John Penrose of Curtin University’s Centre for Marine Science and Technology (CMST), who was a key supporter of Sanders’ voyage.
Dr Christine Erbe, Director of CMST, says Jon Sanders’ voyage was a significant project in the early days of the Centre.
“I am delighted our former staff will have the opportunity to relive the voyage and that our new and young staff can experience it day-by-day as they follow Curtin’s Triple Solo Sailor blog,” Dr Erbe said.
Sanders’ world-record breaking feat of sailing non-stop for 131,535km is still unbeaten and he continues to enjoy regular sailing.
To follow the Triple Solo Sailor blog, visit http://triplesolo.library.curtin.edu.au.
