Memorable experience
Alan Mulholland arrived in P.E.I. Saturday after 11-month journey
SUMMERSIDE – Alan Mulholland is back home.
The Summerside resident, who was attempting to sail around the world solo, returned to P.E.I. early Saturday morning. Mulholland’s journey was cut short after his boat, Wave Rover, suffered damage in January. He was able to dock it in the French territory of Martinique.
Due to a delay in getting the boat repaired and travelling around storm systems in certain areas, Mulholland
decided to head home.
“At first I was a little bit frustrated about the decision and I had this goal to sail around the world,” Mulholland told The Guardian in an interview Sunday morning. “I realized what makes a great adventure is there is a certain amount of risk involved, but you do not know what the outcome is going to be.
“You deal with these challenges and obstacles. I feel great about this trip and the way it turned out. It is over in a year and I have memories that will last me a long time.”
Mulholland, who began this voyage 11 months ago, travelled 7,800 nautical miles. He broke the voyages into passages with the first to the Azores, followed by the Canary Islands, Martinique and then back to Canada.
“This passage, at 33 days, was a day longer than the second Atlantic crossing,” explained Mulholland, who sailed into Charlottetown due to customs. He expects to sail back to the Silver Fox in Summerside early this week.
The 26-foot Wave Rover is 40 years old. He noted the average-size boat that people cruise on today is 45 feet and has hot and cold running water, a flat-screen TV and a lot of comforts that a home would have. Mulholland said Wave Rover does not have those amenities.
“Mine wasn’t that, it never was supposed to be that. It was a shoe-string adventure. Everything is really basic on the boat.”
Mulholland said he did “everything old school” for the trip. For example, he took seat-belt material and made his safety harness along with the steering system for the boat when he is not steering, which is powered by the wind.
Mulholland documented everything from his trip on his YouTube channel, Sailing Wave Rover. He encourages the public to check out what life at sea is like.
“I think people will be surprised with how small the boat is on the ocean and how it gets tossed around,” said Mulholland, who moved to Prince Edward Island 10 years ago and has been told he is the first Islander to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
He said he enjoyed telling people at different ports about what a great place P.E.I. is. Mulholland added he will cherish memories such as seeing whales and watching the stars at night.
Mulholland, who turned 56 while in Martinique, said he feels “20 years younger” than before he started the voyage.
Mulholland said it is “terrific” to be back home, adding, “I had a nice, quiet (Saturday) evening with my wife (Glenda), a terrific homemade meal and catching up.”