What Are The Criteria For A Sailing Circumnavigation?
The start and finish points must be the same location ✅
In my case, this could be anywhere I started on my journey as long as I reached the end the long way around. Although Shelter Bay, Panama wasn’t my first port (Amsterdam was), it is the place where I ‘crossed my outbound wake’.
The journey should be continual and in one direction ✅
My first lap was somewhat circuitous. I started my circumnavigation in 2011, sailing on a series of different boats from Amsterdam to Saint Lucia via England, Gurnsey, France, Spain, Madeira, and The Canary Islands.
Once there, I’d planned to hitchhike on a sailboat as crew in the World Arc 2012, but the universe had other ideas which brought me back to the US for a year instead.
In February of 2013, I set out to sea again, this time joining Captain Fabio aboard SY Amandla in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, making way to Panama via Florida, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. We headed west from Shelter Bay in Panama on 18 April 2013 and returned here the long way six years and seven months later; grayer and happier with me ready to go around again!
You can find a more detailed account of the voyage here
The mariner must pass through two antipodal points (opposite sides of the globe) during the journey ✅
Done! My antipodal points are Galle Sri Lanka and Puerto Villamil, Galapagos, Ecuador on my Panama-to-Panama loop. There are probably numerous others, but of these, I can be certain.
Each leg of the journey must begin at the end of the previous leg ✅
Roger that …at least from Panama to Panama!
The distance traveled must equal or exceed the equator’s ‘great circle’ length (21,598 nautical miles) ✅
To date, I have sailed 56,246 nautical miles (47,458 on SY Amandla) crossing four oceans and visiting 72 countries and territories on 6 continents. In March 2019, I completed my first full circle – traveling 360° of longitude on a boat – at 004° 53′ East (from 52° 22′ North to 21° 57′ South).
And on 17 November 2019, I completed my first circumnavigation under sail, crossing my outbound wake in Shelter Bay, Panama ~ 09° 22′ North 079° 57′ West! How am I celebrating? With a victory lap, of course!
** Last Updated June 13, 2025 **
Elissaveta May 6, 2015
This map is a treasure. You should pin it somewhere waterproof and feel proud of what you have accomplished every single day!
Lisa Dorenfest May 7, 2015 — Post Author
🙂 It most certainly is a treasure. Since I don’t have any walls of my own at present, I will just have to enjoy it on my virtual wall until I get ’round and have my own walls again.
lexklein August 9, 2015
I got distracted by this map (I’d never seen it on here before and I LOVE maps!) Do all the boats represent a stop on this trip? And where do you go next? Now, back to the photo challenge …
Lisa Dorenfest August 10, 2015 — Post Author
Well thanks for noticing the map Lexi 🙂 It is my pride and joy! The boats all represent stops along the journey. The only one that is a bit misleading is the one in Chicago on the Great Lakes. That is where my life journey started, but I took planes, trains and automobiles to New York City…I did’t sail there. That said, my ultimate dream would be to finish my circumnavigation in Chicago…but I’d be thrilled to sail as far as South Africa ⛵️
lexklein August 11, 2015
Incredible! I could probably go back in your blog and find this, but how long have you been at sea now?
Lisa Dorenfest August 11, 2015 — Post Author
?I’ve been sailing seriously since 2007 but in terms of ‘Oceans’ I did my Atlantic Crossing (Netherlands to St Lucia) in 2011 and started my Pacific Crossing in 2013 ⛵️
Susi October 31, 2015
Wow Lisa….the Pacific. You and the Captain are marvelous!! So glad you both stopped in Hilo harbor two years ago…a new and renewed friendship. Think of you both often and appreciate your faithfulness in keeping us land lovers in the ocean loop. My love and aloha to you both! Susi
Lisa Dorenfest October 31, 2015 — Post Author
The pleasure was ours Susi. We have always said that if we could go back to one place on a permanent basis, it would be Hilo. Our time with you there was absolutely wondrous. I look forward to the day that we meet again.
Artistami.Eva June 29, 2016
Hi Lisa, I was just bragging to my husband about you. He stopped in amazement to read about your adventures and look over the maps of your stops and location. He says you are a very brave woman. I agree of course.
Lisa Dorenfest July 1, 2016 — Post Author
Eva – Your husband is very kind, but then again, so are you. Thank you both. (Written at sea 2 July)
badfish January 1, 2017
hey…where are you? I got lost a while, now I’m back. But where are you? Hey, are both those maps from google? And can we use the google maps like that…I can’t understand their rules sheet.
Lisa Dorenfest January 2, 2017 — Post Author
Happy New Year from Langkawi Mr Badfish! Always a pleasure to hear from you.
I’ve been lying a bit low on the social media front lately but plan to get active again in January.
I use the WP Google Maps plug in to document My Journey on this page (key ports in my sailing journey from the Netherlands to Malaysia). It is a bit kludge but it gets the job done. You can learn more here
I more recently starting using Farkwar to update my position since joining Amandla in Mexico. What is great about Farkwar is that I can send updates to the map from my satellite phone when we are at sea (out of cell phone range). Updates propagate to Twitter and Facebook if desired. The map can be embedded to your blog following the steps here. It is used by the cruising community, but I say you just launch the ‘SS Mr Badfish’ and get on board.
I look forward to hanging out with you virtually in 2017. And who knows, if the stars align, maybe we’l travel some together this year. If I get a job, I will be in Singapore, but if not, I will join The Captain where ever he decides to refit the boat (Penang, PPS Thailand, or Phuket Thailand). Plan is to start our Indian Ocean crossing in 2018.
badfish January 2, 2017
Lisa…thanks for all the map info. I really like your maps, and I like the idea of putting a map in a post, but I thought there might be some copyright issue with Google, though I’ve a number of maps in other blogs. It’s just that google’s site has a bunch of very small print, and I can’t tell what is what. blessing for a new year all year…what job in singapore? good luck! blessing for the new year all year…
Lisa Dorenfest January 3, 2017 — Post Author
Am looking for a contract role as a Program Manager to replenish the cruising kitty. Program Management was my career before I set sail.
Hidden Gems January 11, 2018
Pretty impressive Lisa! You are an inspiration. Read your bio – I am stuck where you were with a nicely paid corporate job and a career that bores me. Want to try out writing and blogging and forming a non-profit for girls in Pakistan. BUT too afraid to take the plunge. Mainly because it may mean going back to Karachi and living a life partially there.
Lisa Dorenfest January 12, 2018 — Post Author
I am honoured to be an inspiration for you. If your desire to form a not-for-profit for girls in Pakistan is stronger than your fear of returning to Karachi/living life part time there, it wil happen. Or maybe you will figure out an alternative way to start that not-for-profit. I look forward to seeing where your journey takes you. One of my favorite bloggers, Third Eye Mom has built a life around Social Advocacy. Are you familiar with her?
Hidden Gems January 12, 2018
Hi Lisa, Thanks so much for the encouragement. I haven’t heard of Third Eye Mom but will give her a read, for sure. Let’s stay in touch.
Lisa Dorenfest January 13, 2018 — Post Author
I’ve followed your blog as I am excited to see where your journey takes you
MNL May 1, 2019
wow! that’s pretty amazing that you’ve sailed around the world. I’d seen the wonderful photos but the map makes the accomplishment much more visible.
Lisa Dorenfest May 1, 2019 — Post Author
🤗😘Thank you for the love! While I’ve navigated across 360 degrees of longitude, I still have to cross one of my outbound lines further north to officially complete a circumnavigation. That will likely happen in Panama later this year.
MNL May 1, 2019
Looking forward to your return to Panama and finishing off that last line. I bet that post will feature a happy dance and celebration.
Lisa Dorenfest May 1, 2019 — Post Author
😊#bigtime 💃
healingpilgrim November 12, 2019
Always in awe of your travels – sea or land.. brava to you Lisa!
Did you stop off in Bali and I missed you?!
Lisa Dorenfest November 12, 2019 — Post Author
💞The awe is mutual Amit! Your resilience after a near-fatal accident is greatly inspiring! Sailing in Bali was an unexpected highlight of our circumnavigation. I was certain I would dislike Bali given the multitude of tourists that visit there each season. But it was love at first sight when we sailed into Ambat Bay and that love grew with every day we traveled there. Sadly, I did not become aware of your blog until Peta Kaplan introduced me to it while we were sailing in Sri Lanka. Look forward to meeting you in person on the second lap!
healingpilgrim November 13, 2019
Aw, now I see why I missed you here.. I was walking the Via Francigena in Italy! I’ll definitely have a read though 😉
healingpilgrim November 13, 2019
And yes.. let’s meet!
Alison and Don November 19, 2019
I am awed by your adventures! When I grow up I want to be like you 🙂
What an amazing life you’re having. Will you continue sailing? I can’t imagine you stopping!
Alison
Lisa Dorenfest November 20, 2019 — Post Author
😃😊💞The awe is mutual Alison! How I would love to photograph along-side you someday. The current plan is to cross the Canal for the 3rd time on Sunday, sail up to Puerto Penñasco in the Sea of Cortez, store the boat, find a job in the US to replenish the cruising kitty, and then complete a victory lap.
Alison and Don November 20, 2019
Sounds great! I’m thinking you still have many more stories to tell even though you won’t be sailing for a while. How long will you stay in the US?
I still haven’t finished posting stories from 2018, then there’s all the stories from 2019, and we’re off again in Feb – back to my beloved India and then Taiwan or Malaysia (haven’t decided which yet).
Whenever I write something like this I’m filled again with an almost overwhelming gratitude. We are so blessed!
Happy sailing to Puerto Penñasco.
A.
Lisa Dorenfest November 22, 2019 — Post Author
Many more stories indeed. Much of my storytelling to date has been ‘logbook’ style but I hope to share different perspectives of the journey once I am home. I definitely get those waves of gratitude when revisiting places traveled. I am amazed at the details that you are able to share with us 1-2 years after your trips. Do you keep a detailed journal on your travels? Sometimes I manage a few paragraphs a day, other times, one line thought joggers, and other times, nothing. I am so excited to see your upcoming stories. Your 2020 trip sounds marvelous! Thanks for the wishes for a good voyage.
Latitude Adjustment: A Tale of Two Wanderers November 19, 2019
Well done Admiral!
This is surely a treasure of a blog post that you will look back time and again. We are so lucky to have meet you!
Big hugs!
Lisa Dorenfest November 20, 2019 — Post Author
🧜♀️💜✨Had me roaring with ‘The Admiral’ reference! Wish you were here for the Canal crossing. Looking forward to trying out all of your recommended anchorages on our way to Mexico! Maybe we’ll get lucky and you’ll join us in one or two.
Latitude Adjustment: A Tale of Two Wanderers November 23, 2019
We would love that! Enjoy your transit manana! BTW what are they charging now?
Lisa Dorenfest November 29, 2019 — Post Author
We paid $1,444 ($800 tolls, $54 inspection, $130 security fee, $75 Canal EDCS, $75 Fenders~Lines, $60 Bank Charges, $350 Agent Fee, -$100 discount) and prices are going up significantly at year-end. It was a great transit. No matter how many times we do these things or how many miles we’ve sailed, there is always something new to learn. Here now in Vista Mar Marina for 10 days to prepare for our next leg.
Latitude Adjustment: A Tale of Two Wanderers December 1, 2019
They sure have gone up and changed. We paid $200 for our Agents fees, $650 for the transit, and $800 security deposit which we got back. A fee for the admeasurement but we don’t remember what is was. This was April 2004.
Lisa Dorenfest December 1, 2019 — Post Author
Well, the tolls alone are going up to $1600 (from the current $800) January 1. Not sure if the rest of the fees will double. Glad to be back in the Pacific now with the $800 savings ;-). And the good news is that we paid $0 for visas here, there used to be a charge for that. I think we paid $100 per person when we visited in 2013.
Sartenada November 21, 2019
Hello.
This awesome post. Thank you for sharing it with us. I looked your map and noticed that you visited very near to Finland. We have 187 888 lakes. Waterways are connected to each other by canals. Finland and its lakes are accessible from the Gulf of Finland thru Saimaa Canal. What our lakes offer? Experiences of course. We have a special culture by the lakes, meaning that nearly everyone has a summer cottage and Sauna by the lake. We have 3.2 million Saunas!
Sailing on our lakes enjoyable. There many small towns which welcome newcomers.
Happy sailing!
Lisa Dorenfest November 22, 2019 — Post Author
I do I have an opportunity to sail Finland on my second trip around this globe. It sounds and looks like a magnificent place to travel
anotherday2paradise November 22, 2019
What an achievement, Lisa! Love the map and the “Older. Fatter, Happier. Shall we celebrate with a victory lap?” 🙂 You and the Captain look really fit, well and happy. Wishing you both many more awesome nautical sailing knots.
Lisa Dorenfest November 23, 2019 — Post Author
I was surprised to find the saddest day of the round the world voyage was the day before we arrived at the finish line. Chasing the dream had buoyed my spirits and kept me focused for so many years that I was tempted to sail away in the opposite direction before crossing that finish line. But I found happiness again as we did cross, recognizing that happiness is where we find it and there are many more adventures to come.
Sue Slaght November 23, 2019
Lisa to see the map and read your post I am simply in awe. I can’t fathom that kind of accomplishment. Extraordinary! Of course my question to you is what comes next? Will your sailing days be done? Looking forward to the next chapter.
Lisa Dorenfest November 23, 2019 — Post Author
It’s funny Sue …I celebrated so many of the milestones along the way with awe (the first offshore passage, the first ocean, the first equatorial crossing, the longest passage, the second ocean, the third ocean, the 360th degree of longitude, the fourth ocean …and of course everyone of those clear cancer scans) but when we crossed that outbound line, it almost felt like ‘just another day’. There were a few tears and a lot of smiles, but mostly just the focus on arriving and getting ready for the next passage (we transit the Canal again on Sunday). There was also a sense of loss as we neared that outbound line as my dream to circumnavigate has been my north star since 2008. But I arrived here with joy and a readiness for the adventures that await. It was a highlight to have met you and Dave in person in Australia along the way! I’m just sorry we missed the second opportunity in Thailand.
The current plan is to sail north to Puerto Peñasco in Mexico, store the boat, return to work for a time to replenish the cruising kitty, and then complete that victory lap! There is definitely a trip to Canada somewhere in there.
equinoxio21 December 3, 2019
Congrats! 🙂
Why did I not get that post. You’re on my mail, not my reader. So technically I can’t miss one of you posts…
Hmmm.
Lisa Dorenfest December 3, 2019 — Post Author
🧜♀️Ha, this is a page that I have been updating as I’ve been working through the circumnavigation checklist. As it is a page, not a post, alerts aren’t published for updates. But slowly, friends are finding their way here and I am glad to see you’ve now joined their ranks. Hugs from San Carlos, Panama
equinoxio21 December 4, 2019
Hugs back. Fair winds.
equinoxio21 December 3, 2019
Where on earth is Puerto Peñasco? I will look it up. Cheers.
equinoxio21 December 3, 2019
Okayyyy. That’s in Sonora. Way up north.
Lisa Dorenfest December 3, 2019 — Post Author
Roger that! We chose it as an optimal place to store the boat as it is affordable, generally out of the hurricane belt and a hop,skip and a jump from the US Border. We’ve never sailed these waters and are looking forward to a few months in the Sea of Cortez en route.
equinoxio21 December 4, 2019
I see. Just be careful, hurricanes are unpredictable, even in the Pacific. Though I think right now is all right. Too fresh. Do you have an ETA on Mexican coasts yet, or will it depend on your fancy? Do you plan to spend end of year in the US? Hopping across the border?
Lisa Dorenfest December 4, 2019 — Post Author
Hurricane season is May to November. We will start making way from Panama next Tuesday with stops in Costa Rica and possibly El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras. We are slated to arrive in Puerto Vallarta by end Jan and Puerto Peñasco by end March and then back to the US to start work.
equinoxio21 December 4, 2019
Quite a bit of “hopping” around still. I understand Costa Rica is gorgeous. Don’t miss it. Vallarta is nice too. We went there ages ago. End of Jan, eh? Do you plan on staying on the coast or moving inland a bit? (Remember roads are not too safe here…)
Lisa Dorenfest December 6, 2019 — Post Author
Open to all the possibilities but coastal preferred
equinoxio21 December 6, 2019
I imagine. Now, if you ever think of “hopping” to Mexico city… our guest-room is yours for the taking. Can’t promise I would take you around much, but most certainly would point out the main attractions…
Lisa Dorenfest December 8, 2019 — Post Author
Doubt I will have the luxury of a trip to Mexico City in the near future as I need to get back to work to replenish the cruising kitty, but perhaps when all the work is done we’ll stop through on our way back to Amandla
equinoxio21 December 9, 2019
Let me know if there’s a possibility so we can plan ahead. (And we’re not travelling!) But the offer stands…
Latitude Adjustment: A Tale of Two Wanderers December 4, 2019
YOU WILL LOVE the SOC!! Our best times.
Lisa Dorenfest December 4, 2019 — Post Author
Actually going through your anchorage recommendations now and adding them to the Navionics! So excited!
Latitude Adjustment: A Tale of Two Wanderers December 4, 2019
Great. Sounds like you are giving yourself enough time to enjoy the sea. Keep a trolling line out for dorado and tuna! Let us know if you decide to stop in Zihuatanejo or La Paz, or even Loreto? Perhaps we can join you for a few days.
Lisa Dorenfest December 4, 2019 — Post Author
I think that we are planning to stop in each. Delays in weather windows may have us rushing past Zihuatanejo to get to Puerta Vallarta for guests arriving 31 Jan but La Paz or Loreto are real possibilities.
Jolandi Steven December 5, 2019
What an amazing feat, Lisa. Congratulations, and cheers to that upcoming victory lap! 🙂
Lisa Dorenfest December 5, 2019 — Post Author
😊🥰Ahoy there Jolandi! Thank you for your hearty congratulations. I am a very lucky girl! Every nautical mile has been a blessing.
Jenn February 26, 2020
This is incredible! I’m
Always amazed by people
Who can sail like this!
Lisa Dorenfest February 26, 2020 — Post Author
It’s been a grand adventure and one that I highly recommend. Ahoy from Zihuatanejo.
GGeorgina February 26, 2020
A great map!! Your journey is incredible, Lisa. I look forward to seeing the world through your lens.
Lisa Dorenfest February 27, 2020 — Post Author
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to undertake such a voyage. Thank you for joining me here!
john July 23, 2020
How do I start at your first blog and follow through your entire journey? A worthwhile journey for a sailor in lockdown! thanks John
Lisa Dorenfest July 23, 2020 — Post Author
Delighted that you’d like to sail the entire journey with me. You can start here and work backwards or forwards using the pagination on the bottom. Hope that you’ll be out on the water again soon.