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Come Sail Around the World Trivia Quiz

Come aboard and follow in the wakes of the men and women who have sailed around the world. This quiz will deal with the sailors, their vessels, and the routes they take to circumnavigate the globe.

A multiple-choice quiz by ertrum. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
ertrum

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
219,756

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
496

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. First, we must decide if we're going to sail with a crew or solo. Solo, you say? So be it. Now, if you're going to sail solo around the world, how large a vessel should you own? The largest sailboat to be sailed around the world solo was Tom Blackwell's "Islander". It was a little over 58 feet long, which might be a lot of boat to handle. Maybe something smaller would be better. How long was the shortest sailboat to be sailed solo around the world?
Hint

About 10 meters

About 30 feet

About 21 feet

About 40 feet

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Question 2 of 10

2. Now, to consider the route. I suggest you follow the classic "Clipper Route", Eastward. If you leave from England, you will pass several landmarks as you sail around the world. In which order will you encounter them?
Hint

England - Cape of Good Hope - Cape Leeuwin - Cape Horn - England

England - Cape Horn - Cape of Good Hope - England

England - Cape Horn - Cape Leeuwin - Cape of Good Hope - England

England - Cape Leeuwin - Cape Horn - England

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Question 3 of 10

3. In which hemisphere will you spend most of your time as you sail around the world on the "Clipper Route", northern or southern?

Answer: (one word - northern or southern)

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Question 4 of 10

4. If you take the "Clipper Route" around the world, you will spend a lot of time in the stormy region south of 40 degrees South latitude. What is that region called?
Hint

The Stormy South

The Roaring Forties

The Ship's Graveyard

The Sailor's Folly

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Question 5 of 10

5. Fortunately for you, two famous canals have been opened, which will cut the distance you have to sail, as you sail around the world on the "Clipper Route", and will keep you out of the stormy area you would encounter if they didn't exist. What are they?
Hint

Erie and Panama

St. Lawrence Seaway and Suez

Kiel and Erie

Suez and Panama

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Question 6 of 10

6. On the long voyage around the world, there's plenty of time to think about those who have sailed these waters before. Who was the first to sail around the world alone?
Hint

Captain William Defoe

Captain Joshua Slocum

Captain Michael Zenger

Captain Edwin Beach

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Question 7 of 10

7. The first woman to sail around the world alone, Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz, came from which country? Hint

Germany

England

Poland

France

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Question 8 of 10

8. As you sail along, a fleet of sailboats comes up and passes you. Which round-the-world sailing race, first sponsored by an English brewer, and now by an engine manufacturer, might you be watching?
Hint

SORC

America's Cup

Whitbread/Volvo

Fastnet

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the hot tropical sun, your mind begins to wander, and you start thinking about the cool, dark, depths of the ocean. In 1960, which submarine made the first submerged circumnavigation?
Hint

USS Triton

USS Skipjack

USS Nautilus

USS Thresher

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Question 10 of 10

10. Finally, as you return to your home port, tip your hat to the brave Portuguese explorer who was the first to lead an expedition which sailed around the world. Who was he?
Hint

Vasco Da Gama

Francis Drake

Ferdinand Magellan

Amerigo Vespucci

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: About 21 feet

Japan's Hiroshi Aoki sailed his "Ahodori II" around the world in 1971.
His boat was 20 feet 8 inches long and 6 feet 8 inches wide at the
waterline.

Answer: England - Cape of Good Hope - Cape Leeuwin - Cape Horn - England

You'll sail South from England, rounding the cape of Good Hope at the tip of South Africa, then down to Australia, where you will see Cape Leeuwin, finally "rounding the Horn" at the tip of South America on your way home.

3. In which hemisphere will you spend most of your time as you sail around the world on the "Clipper Route", northern or southern?

Answer: Southern

The "Clipper Route" goes primarily through the Southern Hemisphere,
unless you decide to take a couple of side trips.

4. If you take the "Clipper Route" around the world, you will spend a lot of time in the stormy region south of 40 degrees South latitude. What is that region called?

Answer: The Roaring Forties

The Roaring Forties, the Furious Fifties, and the Screaming Sixties are names sailors call the regions between about 40 degrees South and the continent of Antarctica. The storms in this region are often fierce, and bring with them high, rough waves. Many ships have lost sails or masts in the gales of the region.

Answer: Suez and Panama

The Suez Canal was completed in 1869, and greatly reduced the time and distance required to travel from Europe to East Asia. The Panama Canal was completed later, in 1914, allowing sailors to bypass South America on their voyages.

6. On the long voyage around the world, there's plenty of time to think about those who have sailed these waters before. Who was the first to sail around the world alone?

Answer: Captain Joshua Slocum

Captain Slocum built his boat, "Spray", by rebuilding a derelict hulk, then took the 30 foot sloop around the world. He sailed through the Straits of Magellan instead of around the Horn. While sailing through the Straits, he found it necessary to strew tacks on deck to keep off unwanted visitors. He wrote of his experiences in "Sailing Alone Around the World".

7. The first woman to sail around the world alone, Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz, came from which country?

Answer: Poland

Polish sailor and naval engineer Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz sailed her sloop, "Mazurek", and completed the voyage in March, 1978. Karen Thorndike was the first American woman to sail solo around the world. Maria Spelternia was the first woman to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

Answer: Whitbread/Volvo

The Whitbread race was started in 1973, and has been run eight times since (as of 2005). Volvo took over the sponsorship of the Whitbread in 2001. None of the other races are round-the-world races.

9. In the hot tropical sun, your mind begins to wander, and you start thinking about the cool, dark, depths of the ocean. In 1960, which submarine made the first submerged circumnavigation?

Answer: USS Triton

The Triton sailed around the world submerged on her first voyage, from 15 February through 10 May 1960. The Nautilus was the first submarine to reach the North Pole.

10. Finally, as you return to your home port, tip your hat to the brave Portuguese explorer who was the first to lead an expedition which sailed around the world. Who was he?

Answer: Ferdinand Magellan

Magellan was killed in the Philippines, and only one ship of the five which had set out from Spain returned. However, that ship brought back a cargo of cloves which was worth enough to pay for the cost of the entire fleet.

Source: Author ertrum

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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