The 1965 route started in Paris, travelling through Spain it crossed into Africa, continuing through Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt into the Middle East. From Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel the route entered Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. Crossing Asia via Pakistan, India and Nepal and heading south through Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia via an unsuccessful attempt to enter what was then Burma. Australia took the Americans back to their home continent via the Central American countries of Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala before Mexico took them to home soil and a finish in New York.

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Unlike Ellen McArthur whose route is dictated by the elements today’s cross continent route has to be plotted around political boundaries. As such a detour around Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan would be necessary, either through Saudi Arabia to the south or Turkey, Uzbekistan and the edge of China to the north. Currently all other countries are ‘navigatible’ though some would require a military escort. Of course the start point this time would be London and then ‘overland’ via the Channel Tunnel to France and beyond.

 It did seem strange that the original venturers excluded South America. Thus it would be a completion of the book for the re-run to address this and ship from Australia into Santiago if not to Cape Horn.