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Following tough challenges, SA man follows his dream of sailing around the world for 14 months

Dan Turner, a 41-year-old husband and father of three, is gearing up for the adventure of a lifetime: a 14-month journey sailing around the world. Leaving in November, it’s the biggest challenge Dan has ever faced, but one he has dreamt of since he was a little boy.

Dan’s adventure is rooted in an incredible life journey. After finishing school, he spent four years serving as an engineer in the Australian Army, where he worked in Darwin and with the United Nations Security Force in East Timor. Transitioning to everyday life away from the army presented its challenges, but he eventually found a sense of purpose through endurance running, participating in marathons and ultra-marathons, alongside a close friend.

After that, Dan was trying to figure out what his next challenge could be.

“Being a yachtsman as a kid, I decided to get back into sailing,” Dan Turner says.

Dan’s return to sailing included ambitious goals like competing in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and the Melbourne to Osaka (Japan) race, which took him 33 days to complete.

“That was an adventure in itself, that race,” Dan says. “When I got back from that, the only thing left on my list of goals was to sail around the world.”

Planning such an expedition is no small feat, particularly financially. During COVID in 2020, Dan dedicated himself to making his dream a reality. With no prior boat-building experience, he spent four years building a 19-foot yacht in his family’s driveway.

“About six or eight weeks ago, I put that boat in a container, and it’s now going overseas to Portugal where I will meet it for the start of a race in a few months time, and have a go at sailing around the world,” Dan says.

Dan is very aware of the huge challenge before him; preparing to sail around the world is on a whole different scale.

“There’s nothing that can really prepare you for that sort of time frame, being away,” Dan says. His background in the army and tough endurance events has equipped him with resilience, but he understands that the true test lies in the experience itself.

The small size of his yacht also comes with its challenges; he plans to make stops at seven or eight ports along the way for supplies. Dan also hopes he’ll be able to catch some fish for some fresh food: “That is something I’ll enjoy if I can catch some fish, some fresh food along the way will be great,” Dan says.

Perhaps the most difficult part of Dan’s journey will be the time away from his family. As a husband and father, he’s taking measures to stay connected and will be using a satellite phone to communicate with his family. His wife is going to manage his social media with updates for the public.

“There’s never a perfect time to leave your family for 14 or 15 months, but this is my ultimate goal, since I was a kid,” Dan says. “I’ve ticked everything else off, and I’ve still got my health. The opportunity came up, and I’m taking it now.”

Despite the financial strain of this adventure, Dan has committed fully to his dream. He reflects on his past struggles post-army, saying that adventure has reignited his sense of purpose.

“When I’m on my deathbed, I want my kids to think, he’s done everything he possibly can to live the most amazing life,” Dan says.

While he prepares to sail around the world, Dan has written a biography about his life’s adventures, set to be released on November 1st at the CYCSA in Adelaide and November 10th at Jump Ship Brewing in Port Lincoln. Pre-orders are available for those interested in his inspiring journey.

As he looks ahead to his return in 2026, Dan reflects on what’s next: “Everyone says, ‘you’re never going to slow down’, but this is genuinely the last massive thing I want to do. I think from after here, I will continue with adventure, but it will be more so at a cruisy capacity, with my wife.”

To stay up to date with his journey, visit his Facebook page here.

To pre-order Dan’s book and for more information, click here.

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