Nine To Noon Sailor Dan sails the world
Mar 16, 2026
Dan Turner, Australian sailor and DIY boatbuilder who built a 19-foot plywood yacht in his driveway. He talks about crafting the boat by hand and facing skeptics. He recounts surviving a brutal 70-knot storm and rounding the Cape of Storms. He reflects on family sacrifices, solo-sailing sleep strategies, and the unexpected camaraderie among competitors.
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Built A Sea‑Going Boat In The Driveway
- Dan Turner built his 19-foot plywood boat Immortal Game in his driveway over three and a half years before racing it around the world.
- He was a desk worker with no prior boatbuilding experience and learned by doing, despite widespread scepticism from family and friends.
Tiny Boat Delivered Real Ocean Performance
- Small boats can still achieve ocean speeds and endurance; Immortal Game averaged 5.5 knots with a 19-knot top speed.
- The hull alone weighed ~500 kg and the fully equipped boat was about a tonne, proving strength in light construction.
Mapped A 28,000 Nautical Mile Route Through Remote Islands
- Dan detailed his race route: qualifier from Lagos and Lanzarote, then Antigua, Panama Canal, Marquesas, Tahiti, Tonga, Fiji, Cocos Keeling, Mauritius, Durban, Cape Town, St Helena, Recife and back to Antigua.
- The course included transits through canals, remote island chains and major ocean basins across 28,000 nautical miles.