Joe Harris completed his solo circumnavigation of the globe returning to Newport and crossing Castle Hill Light at 8:27am Thursday morning on his Class 40, Gryphon Solo 2 completing a solo circumnavigation of the globe in 152 days 23 hours 10 minutes 24 seconds. Upon completion, Joe arrived at the Sail Newport pier in Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island where he reunited with his family and received a public welcome.
Joe Harris departed Newport, Rhode Island on November 15, 2015 in an attempt to break the non-stop solo Around the World Record for 40-foot monohulls but he sustained damage to his hydrogenerators forcing him to stop in Cape Town, South Africa on December 28, 2015 ending his record attempt. However, Joe elected to continue on and complete his solo sail around the world. Joe was again was forced to stop in Pirialopolis, Uruguay on March 24, 2015 due to hull damage. Following a ten-day pit-stop, Joe resumed sailing and to complete the circumnavigation back to Newport.
Joe has joined a small select group of approximately 136 who have sailed solo around the world leaving the five great capes (Good Hope – South Africa, Leeuwin – Australia, South East Cape – Tasmania, South West Cape – New Zealand, Cape Horn) to port.
