Sailing into Oblivion: 271 Days Alone at Sea

Embark on an unforgettable evening of endurance, seamanship, and solitude on the open ocean at this Sailors’ Series program at the Whaling Museum.

Captain Jerome Rand will share the gripping story of his solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe aboard the 1975 Westsail 32 Mighty Sparrow — a 271-day voyage covering 29,805 miles without setting foot on land.

Departing from Gloucester, Massachusetts, Jerome sailed east across the North Atlantic nearly to the Azores before turning south, passing the Cape Verde Islands and crossing the Equator. From there, he continued toward Cape Town, into the vast Indian Ocean, and down into the fierce gales of the Southern Ocean. He sailed below Australia and New Zealand, rounded Cape Horn, and crossed both the South and North Atlantic Oceans before finally returning home.

Alone and beyond the reach of rescue, Jerome faced equipment failures, dwindling provisions, violent storms, and profound isolation. The Westsail 32 Mighty Sparrow—an American-built cruising vessel designed to withstand the world’s harshest waters—became the only boat of its class to complete a non-stop circumnavigation, earning its place among a rare handful of small vessels to conquer what was once called the “impossible route.”

Through powerful video footage captured at sea—raging storms, close encounters with whales and dolphins, and deeply personal reflections recorded during months of isolation—Jerome delivers a captivating and deeply human story of resilience. It is a testament to enduring challenge day after day, where the ocean offers no pause button.

A light cocktail reception and book signing will follow the program. Tickets are $12.50 for Museum Members or $25 for public.

About the Speaker

Jerome Rand became captain and owner of Mighty Sparrow, a Westsail 32, in late 2015. Within two years, he set off on his solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. After 271 days at sea and nearly 30,000 miles sailed, the voyage was declared a success—placing Mighty Sparrow among a select few small boats ever to complete the route.

In the years since, Jerome has logged an additional 40,000 sea miles. His voyages have included encounters with tropical storms, pandemic-related port closures, and significant equipment failures—each adding to the hard-earned wisdom that offshore sailing demands.

Jerome’s sailing career began on small inland lakes in Northern Michigan before expanding to a decade in the Caribbean, including time at the Bitter End Yacht Club. He later crewed on yacht deliveries across the North and South Atlantic Oceans, experiences that paved the way for his solo offshore pursuits.

For Jerome, the ocean remains the ultimate teacher. In a world of shifting weather, mechanical breakdowns, uncertainty, and isolation, experience transforms into wisdom—and resilience becomes a way of life.