68-year-old sailor returns to Plymouth after solo nine year global voyage
Published on Aug 28, 2025 at 9:51 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Aug 28, 2025 at 10:46 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
A 68-year-old British sailor has returned home to the UK after spending the last nine years on an incredible solo journey around the world.
Retired lifeboatman Barry Perrins and his Van der Stadt ‘Seal sailing boat White Shadow of Poole set off in June 2016.
During his nine-year-long trip, he and his boat traveled an unbelievable 30,000 miles (48,300km).
During his time on the water, he traveled as far away as New Zealand and Australia, but has now returned home after his epic journey.
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He traveled around the world on his incredible solo journey
We’ve seen people take on amazing solo journeys around the world, from the guy who’s attempting to travel the globe in his $200,000 Lamborghini to the teenage pilot who wants to land on all seven continents.
And over in the UK, Barry Perrins has just completed an awesome solo boat journey of his own.
He set off hoping to fulfil a childhood dream, and we reckon it’s safe to say that he achieved it.
Perrins traveled from the UK to Portugal, over the North Sea to the Caribbean, and through the Panama Canal into the Pacific Ocean.
But it wasn’t all… erm… smooth sailing, for Perrins.
Along the way, he was declared missing for 71 days before finally being sighted by the French Air Sea Rescue; he was forced to call for help off the coast of Australia; and he battled extreme weather all while having to make potentially life-threatening decisions.
“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 told the BBC.
He also spent 18 months unable to leave New Zealand when Covid hit.
“I spent a year-and-a-half in New Zealand, which was no hard thing,” he said.
“New Zealand’s a lovely country.”
Perrin documented his voyage on his Adventures of an Old Seadog YouTube channel, where he’s had millions of views.
Now, after nine years at sea, he’s back on dry land and has been reunited with his sister.
What’s next for the sailor?
You might think that with nine years and 30,000 miles at sea under his belt, Perrins might be content with spending time on land.
But you’d be wrong, as he told the BBC that he’s already planned his next adventure.
Perrins said he will be embarking on a sailing tour around the UK next year.
You can keep up to date with those plans on his YouTube channel here.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
