The Mysterious Disappearance Of A Sea Pioneer | Joshua Slocum Documentary | Timeline 

Joshua Slocum was one of my guiding lights in 1982 when I sailed across the Atlantic and back in my own 47' sailboat, "Free Spirit" with my wife and 3 children. My earliest guiding light was Robin Lee Graham, who at a young age sailed a 24 foot sailboat named "Dove" around the world. I later bought a Paceship 23 and named it "Little Dove" I, too, wrote a book, "North Atlantic Odyssey" sailing to the Arctic Circle" published by St. Martin's Press in 1989. I, too, had the Boston Globe do a big article on my trip and was asked to lecture innumerable times. Watching this excellent production brought the ocean and all my experiences back to this 84 y.o. former sailor who now lives in a modest villa on a river in Florida.

I'd like to think if ever a solo sailor gets sick out at sea, it's now Slocum who'll take the helm while they're sleeping in their bunk.

Joshua was an amazing Man! What a adventure! I loved his book "sailing around the world alone" He's still sailing out there somewhere!!! Fair winds!

Interesting and informative. As a sailor myself, and someone that has read his book about his circumnavigation, I find it great to see this presented. As a further surprise, I found out he brought Spray down the Erie Canal. This I did not know, and this shows film footage of the locks in my hometown of Lockport, NY. My home was a five minute walk to the canal, and a ten minute walk to the locks. I was thrilled to see this footage, and now realize I have a connection with Joshua Slocum besides my love for sailing.

the goat ate my charts -priceless

The only risk you take in life is not taking any risks. My favorite quote regarding ships. "Boats are safe in a harbor. But boats aren't meant for harbors."

Born in Nova Scotia, naturalized American when he rebuilt Spray and made the trip, and lets not forget his time in the Brazilian Navy! Truly a man of the world, and the sea.

I did not know of this man. I now do. History is a blessing.

This dude was definetly a rare breed. Absolute legend. Reminds me of the quote from braveheart "every man dies, not every man truly lives" . Josh Slocum lived, more than most of us will. What an adventure.

That was very well done. Slocum has always been one of my heroes. Now I need to go dig though my moving boxes, find his book, and re-read it.

The man had true grit; and to think he maintained his sanity without FaceBook and selfies

What a nicely done documentary of the Spray and Joshua Slocum, loved it.

Thanks very much for this. A great story about a brave and adventurous man that I didn't know.

Navigated with standard household clock and spread tacks on the deck as an alarm against unwanted intruders whole at anchor. Have read his book countless times. What a man.

Most interesting and such an adventure. His story.. history and the connections. One the best Time Lines I’ve seen yet.

Joshua Slocum was a great, great...Uncle of mine. I remember my grandpa showing me and telling me about his book about Joshua Slocum, back in the sixties.

he was a distant relative of mine. thank you for sharing this.

Definitely pretty neat seeing this video pop up. Joshua Slocum is my great great uncle. My grandmother used to talk about him pretty often when I was little.

My great great great grandfather .. nice to see the memory kept alive. I'm the progeny of his son Garfield who ended up in upstate Ny.

Joshua Slocum’s book is a joy to read.

That was a man from a time when the ships were made of wood and the men were made of steel.

My former girlfriend was Laurie Anne Slocum...she was directly related to Joshua Slocum through her father who was a US Air Force enlisted man at the NORAD base in North Bay, ON - he married a First Nations women from the area in the mid-50's and Laurie was one of the number of children born as a result of the union.

Read Slocum's book years ago. It is a narrative you can't forget.

As always, a beautiful well-presented history. Well spent time watching this. Thanks.

He was, is and ever will be the true master off all the seven seas. He achieved of what we dream. He is the sailing legend of the entire world, his name is legacy to all those, who set sail to daring adventures towards unbound freedom. There is nothing like a strong gail, a solid and sturdy boat and the boundless sea, all to be mastered by one man only in face of the eternal. As long as mankind lives on this planet the name " Joshua Slocum" will be spoken out with ore and admiration.

Back in the dark ages of school, SAILING ALONE AROUND THE WORLD WAS REQUIRED READING (probably don't have REQUIRED READING anymore). This was back in the 60's,and, I'VE NEVER LOST MY LOVE for this book(It took me some years, but I now have my own copy).⛵⛵⛵⚓⚓⚓✌✌✌✌

The 1st replica to also circumnavigate was the "Igdrasil" , covered in by a lengthy National Geographic article of the late 30's. In the mid 2000's I stumbled onto it in a boatyard in Anacortes WA where it was undergoing repairs.

Amazing story! Quite a character living in our hearts, Salut!!, dear Captain!!

They are nice stories on the sailboats, loved watching

Definitely an inspiration to a many, of sailors . Including myself.

this was my great great great grandfather

I'm glad to have looked at this video ,captivating & left me wanting to know more about Joshua Slocum . He certainly had wander lust in his veins , he knew something bigger was out there and wanted to explore it for himself .

I watched the entire documentary with a smile on my face and hope in my heart.

Beautifully written and narrated!

A life well lived by a courage and far sighted seaman! 🌈

Excellent video thanks

i sat and had an Xmas lunch with David many years ago.. and was left totally in awe of the man .

As someone who is a boat captain for a living, I often imagine and fear the sound of a rock on my hull.

I just lived the story, conquering the sea right along Joshua........loved it

Wouldn’t compare anyone to Columbus. Interesting this man is so acclaimed when the world was populated eons prior to his life with a fraction of the geographic knowledge. Those are the true hero’s.

Narrated by Patrick Watson. Don't know who that is but sounds familiar from other docs. Good voice for it. Glad I drifted upon this doc as had never heard of Slocum and his voyages. Amazing.

You need to correct the title to include the “Alone”, which without it, the title is incorrect.

Thx Timeline love these posts.

This doc is 20 years old??? Don't know what took so long to post but thank you

the audio version of his book is available on YT. while reading the letter Slocum wrote in his own hand i am impressed with his spelling given that he only had 2 yrs of formal education!

At 30:00, you can see Larry Tyler's outboard motor, while he is recreating part of this famous voyage. I too would leverage technology for safety, but it just makes the original voyage that much more incredible.

Great story! Thanks.

Great video, I bought and read his book in High School in the early 60's. Also read other things about him. Time to dig that book out and read it again.

Wow. Great story, great life.

As a sailor, I like to think that Slocum would have wished his life would end at sea rather than in a cosy bed coughing up blood. I'm reminded of a line from "Unchained Melody": "Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea To the open arms of the sea Lonely rivers sigh, "Wait for me, wait for me I'll be coming home, wait for me"

First time I have heard of this fellow. Very fascinating.

I gotta also say, this is the most respectful comment section I've ever seen in RU-vid. Truly inspiring man. I wish I could sail around the world. I'm just an aging man from the Midwest who can't even swim 😂. But I do love sailing story's for some reason. I've even tried convincing my wife we should buy a boat and try it. Just a pipe dream for now I guess.

I believe I might be related to this guy. Some of my family was from Canada and I think my great grandma said that I was. I will have to get the book somewhere. Seems like a interesting man.

For what it's worth. In the book, Captain Slocum describes his encounter with a rogue wave of Patagonia. That wave found him on the way to Venezuela in 1909.😪😪😪 This, to me, is the way a real sailor such as Joshua Slocum should go,and, not run down by a steamship.⛵⛵⛵⛵

Very recommendable!

I feel bad for people who have to imitate a life of someone who was just doing what they love. Be inspired but sail you own seas,find your own path, it will never be a waste of time.

Absolutely brilliant

As I am reading some misleading comments, here you have my two cents trying to clarify this: - Joshua Slocum was the first man to circumnavigate the world alone. - Juan Sebastián Elcano was the commander who completed the Spanish expedition that circumnavigated the world from 1519 to 1522. Although this expedition was started under the command of Ferdinand Magellan, he unfortunately died in the Philippines. Hope this helps.

Great book, I enjoyed it so much 👍

A great sailor,author,boat builder,navigator,adventurer and all round he man .He will always be remembered.(36 ft. boat).

What an amazing man. I too am from Nova Scotia

I loved this book. Simple kind english describing drama without hyperbole. Buffalo Bill's autobiography is similarly written. He and Joshua describe near death experiences as if they were a visit to the local supermarket... Bless them and the other pioneers. They inspired my youth and they comfort my advanced years...

I ve loved sailing most of my life and some of it came reading his book. One part when he said he got his boat so balanced (his boat a yawl) he didin t touch the helm for 2 weeks and stayed on course. I think he did not get lost just found the the perfect island..

Oh hey this guy is my great great great great grandfather

Years ago, “Uncle” Norman Albury, who ran the sail shop on Man O War Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, told me that Slocum stopped in there to have his sail repaired, AFTER the time everyone said he had disappeared. I asked if he had told anyone this? He said, no, nobody ever asked!

The goat ate his Caribbean chart for lunch! Damn!

Great post, Eagles calling out for dramatic effect? Sound clown does not live by salt water.

This is my great great great grandpa thanks y’all for loving him

Really interesting I had never heard of him

Read his book as a teen and loved it

Mr David Jones , shown here at about 18:00 was also a remarkable man. He sailed around the world alone also. And that was after he lost an eye due to an auto accident and a lung due to disease... he passed away at 74 yrs old. 3 years after he was shown on this film. He also "as stated here" built a replica of The Liberdade .. but did have 1 crewmate with him to help sail it which is totally understandable since by that time his health wasn't the best.

My uncle bought a 40ft wooden sailboat named fayeaway built in the Caribbean in the 1920's I believe, right on the beach by sticking the ribs in the sand starting from there,.the original owner sailed around the world several times taking pictures for magazines with his family, I got to spend a summer living and working on it in dry dock but it had a plack inside that said "If God wanted us to build fiberglass boats he would have made fiberglass trees" lol doesn't make much sense to me but I get the feeling anyone with a wood boat would agree

Legends Never Die 🙌

Let's not forget Sir Francis Chichester. On 27 August 1966 Chichester sailed his ketch Gipsy Moth IV from Plymouth in the United Kingdom and returned there after 226 days of sailing on 28 May 1967, having circumnavigated the globe, with one stop (in Sydney). By doing so, he became the first person to achieve a true circumnavigation of the world solo from West to East via the great Capes. The voyage was also a race against the clock, as Chichester wanted to beat the typical times achieved by the fastest fully crewed clipper ships during the heyday of commercial sail in the 19th century.

Fantastic program. Never heard of Slocum. I must read his book. TY

Great story.i wonder if he didn't make his last voyage public ,he would have sailed on .✌

Don't know how I got to this video but I'm sure glad I did! INCREDIBLE

One of the several yachts l owned in my my life was replica Spray.. complete with wooden blocks and lowering topmost. As for it's sailing qualities they were excellent... Good tracking.. solid and seaworthy. When it's lines were measured by modern computers.. it was found to have centre off effort... centre of resistance... centre of gravity... in a perfect combination. Years off building experience went into such a build... no drawings.

I wore put several copies of his book

Tremendous true story

Living the life

Not first to solo circumnavigate, just the first to write and publish a book about it...

If you have time, get yourself a copy of his book, Sailing Alone Around the World, because he is a simple man whose diary is resplendent with deep understanding and faith. It is a foundational work to read and appreciate because it is all real and true!

Anyone know what the song was that was playing during the credits?

Nice story

I built my Herreshoff Marco Polo in the early 70's, inspired in part by Slocum, the Smeetons, Irving Johnson, John Guzzwell, Sir Francis and all the others who were doing it back in the day when some islanders might invite you to BE dinner rather then just come to dinner. Being the 'First' must have been a real experience of discovery. -Veteran '66-68

I always thought that his story would have made a fantastic movie

reading his book right now!

I grew up in queens NY. In the cemetery was a tribute to the Slocum and all the fatalities when it sank off ny. Never realized it was named after him

its worth noting there was no stainless steel, or freeze dried food, no zip loc bags or nylon or plastic. Everything was canned food or caught by hand, everything was canvas and wool or leather. the overall weight of things was immense. No such thing as Walmart or a convenience store. If you landed someplace barren and rocky that's what there was. Nothing more, but you might be happy to have reached dry land. No telephones or radios, navigation did not include GPS and the compass, well it was nailed to the deck.

Not only was it incredible what he did but the fact he did it in a poor boat.

Don't recall Slocum being part of ON.🇨🇦 history curriculum.. 👩‍🏫😪🙅‍♀️.. definitely wouldn'tve dozed off to learn of this prolific Canadian's remarkable maritime history.

4:48 "Our vessel is the largest copy of the Spray ever made". A copy can only be one size.

Bravo

Interesting

Id heard of him but never knew he was a Cannuck!

It’s insulting to this pioneer to compare him to the Astro-nots.

Linden MacIntyre narrating…BONUS that was brilliant 🌞

Efsane bir yaşam...👏⛵🗺🙂

The Spray sailed through my childhood...