British explorer James Ketchell has become the first person to circumnavigate the globe by air, sea, and land, completing an 11-month, 27,620-mile journey aboard a 40-foot boat named Mindset. The 44-year-old adventurer concluded the voyage last Saturday upon returning to Gosport marina, marking his third global circumnavigation and adding to his previous records set in 2013 and 2019.

Ketchell’s expedition began in July 2025 from Gosport and took him across several key locations, including Lanzarote, Cape Verde, Brazil, South Africa, Tasmania, and Argentina. His route notably passed the three major maritime landmarks of the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn. At one point during the trip, Ketchell had to make an unplanned stop in Cape Town for critical repairs to his boat before continuing the final leg home.

This recent circumnavigation follows Ketchell’s 2019 Guinness World Record achievement flying a gyrocopter the same distance and his 18,019-mile bike journey around the world in 2013. He described the completion of this latest journey as an emotional moment, expressing relief and gratitude upon returning and reuniting with family and friends, including his fiancée, Lisa Bulmer.

Ketchell emphasized that his motivation was not driven by the desire to be first but by a personal determination to accomplish what no one else had. He noted the challenge involved years of seeking funding and partners, facing repeated rejections over three years before securing the resources necessary to undertake the voyage.

Throughout his travels, Ketchell engaged with more than 10,000 children worldwide through inspirational talks delivered both online while at sea and in person. He reflected on the broader human experience, noting the commonality he observed in people across different cultures and the kindness and curiosity exhibited by children everywhere.

Ketchell’s journey is also shaped by his resilience in the face of adversity. Following a serious motorcycle accident in 2008, he pivoted his focus toward ambitious challenges, including rowing across the Indian Ocean. He credited difficult experiences with pushing him beyond comfort zones and enabling him to pursue his record-breaking endeavors.

As Ketchell returns to civilian life, his achievements stand as a testament to perseverance, bold exploration, and the pursuit of unprecedented paths across air, sea, and land.