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B.C. Man Stepping Back in Time to Sail Around the World

Abbotsford sailor Isa Rosli will soon embark on a journey around the world without GPS, navigating Earth's waters for far longer than 80 days, with the Golden Globe Race starting September 6 and Rosli the only Canadian on the 2026 roster.
Rosli's sailing dream began as a child in Malaysia but costs delayed entry until age 27, when he moved to Canada to join a race team; watching the 2018 inaugural race sparked his ambition, though he was not financially and mentally ready for 2022.
The 30,000-mile route requires sailors to navigate without any technology developed after 1968, when Robin Knox-Johnston completed the first solo nonstop voyage; competitors rely on sextants and wind vanes instead of GPS, using film cameras and typewriters rather than digital devices.
With fewer than 20 qualified competitors and fewer than one-third finishing annually, Rosli faces extreme difficulty; if he completes the race, he will become the first Canadian to do so, though he has concerns about Atlantic and Indian ocean storms.
Rosli acquired Olleanna, a boat with Golden Globe Race history, from Jeremy Bagshaw who sailed it to the 2022 finish line before selling it; the largely race-ready vessel reduced preparation costs, and with less than two months until September 6, Rosli has established a fundraiser at gofundme.com.

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B.C. man stepping back in time to sail around the world - Creston Valley Advance

An Abbotsford man will soon embark on a journey around the world, but it’s going to take a lot longer than 80 days, as he navigates the Earth’s waters without the help of GPS. Few people have even attempted to do what Isa Rosli will start this September, with fewer than 20 people having qualified for the 2026 Golden Globe Race. The gruelling challenge takes place every four years and includes sailors from around the world, but Rosli is the only …

6 days ago

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