Our Story

Joshua Slocum (1844-1909) grew up on Brier Island and became the first person to sail alone around the world in 1898.  As a young man working in his family's bootshop, Slocum dreamed of a life at sea. He first went to sea as a boy of 14 and then left home for good at the age of 16. The bootshop still stands to this day on Water Street.

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In 1895 he set sail alone on his 37' gaff rigged oyster sloop named Spray on his solo navigation around the world, a feat no one else had ever accomplished. Upon his return, Slocum published a detailed memoir of his journey, the classic book Sailing Alone Around The World.