A British adventurer has secured his place in the history books after becoming the first person ever to circumnavigate the globe by land, air and sea.
James Ketchell, 43, from Basingstoke, completed the remarkable achievement when he sailed back into Gosport, Hampshire, on June 13 after spending almost a year at sea aboard his 40-foot yacht Mindset.
The latest voyage completes an extraordinary trilogy of global expeditions. Ketchell first cycled around the world in 2013, covering some 18,000 miles across multiple continents. In 2019, he became the first person to complete an officially ratified circumnavigation of the globe in an open-cockpit gyrocopter, flying more than 27,000 miles and earning a Guinness World Record.
Now, following a 34,000-mile voyage across some of the world’s most challenging oceans, he has become the first known person to circle the Earth by all three methods.
His latest adventure began on July 27, 2025, when he departed from Gosport. Sailing westward, he travelled via Lanzarote, Cape Verde, Brazil, Cape Town, Tasmania and Cape Horn before eventually returning home to the United Kingdom.
The journey was not without difficulties. Ketchell was forced to return to Cape Town for critical repairs before embarking on the final leg of his voyage, an almost 8,700-mile crossing back to Britain.
Waiting for him on the quayside were his fiancée, Lisa Bulmer, whom he had not seen for six months, along with his parents, Trisha and John, and other family members.
Reflecting on the achievement, Ketchell admitted the significance of the milestone had yet to fully sink in.
“It sounds crazy to say, but I’ve now become the first person to circumnavigate the globe by air, sea and land,” he said.
“If someone else had been the first person to go around the world by air, sea and land, I would be the first person to shake their hand. I guess it’s just luck that I am the first person to do that. That’s pretty cool.”
He added: “I’m very happy. I’m pleased to be back. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever worked on.”
A Life of Adventure
Ketchell’s achievements extend far beyond his latest voyage.
In 2014 he became the first and only person to combine rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, climbing Mount Everest and cycling around the world, a challenge that became known as the “Ultimate Triathlon”.
He has since completed an unsupported trek across Greenland and survived multiple life-threatening situations during his adventures, including two dramatic rescues at sea.
One rescue saw him clinging to a rope ladder on the side of a 100,000-tonne oil tanker in storm-force winds in the Indian Ocean.
His remarkable achievements are all the more impressive given that in 2008 he suffered a serious motorcycle accident which left him with broken legs and a severely damaged ankle. Doctors warned he could face permanent mobility issues and might never return to the active lifestyle he once enjoyed.
Instead, the setback became the starting point for a series of world-record adventures.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Throughout his expeditions, Ketchell has focused on encouraging young people to believe in their own potential.
During his latest voyage he delivered educational talks in schools across the world, hosted live links with classrooms and produced learning resources designed to inspire children to learn more about the oceans, science and exploration.
“Every country, every school and every young person I have ever met reminds me that adventure means nothing unless it inspires somebody else to believe in themselves,” he said.
“More is always possible if you put your mind to it.”
A long-time ambassador for the Scout movement, Ketchell has also written books about his travels and regularly speaks to schools, community groups and businesses about resilience, ambition and overcoming adversity.
Supporting Ocean Science
The voyage was not only an adventure but also a scientific mission.
As an ambassador for the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, Ketchell used the journey to support several international research projects aimed at improving understanding of the world’s oceans.
During the expedition he deployed an Argo float in the Indian Ocean, part of a global network of more than 4,000 robotic instruments that collect real-time data on ocean conditions.
He also gathered microplastic samples for marine pollution research and contributed seabed mapping data to the international Seabed 2030 project, which aims to create the first complete map of the ocean floor.
Researchers say the information collected during voyages such as Ketchell’s helps improve scientific understanding of ocean health, climate systems and marine environments.
Raising Money for Charity
The expedition has also been raising funds for two charities, Baton of Hope, which focuses on suicide prevention and awareness, and Kindled Spirit, which supports victims of human trafficking.
Looking back on his latest success, Ketchell suggested there may be few challenges left on Earth to conquer.
“After rowing oceans, climbing Everest, cycling, flying and sailing around the world, I’m not sure what challenge is left on this planet,” he joked. “Maybe next stop Mars.”
For many watching his journey, however, his greatest achievement may not be the records themselves, but the message behind them: that determination, resilience and a willingness to embrace adventure can carry people far beyond the limits they once thought possible.
In an age often dominated by bad news, James Ketchell’s extraordinary achievement stands as a reminder that British courage, ingenuity and perseverance are still capable of making history.
