Learn of an adventurous life sailing the world's seas and oceans in a 32 ft vessel.
Jerome Rand became the captain and owner of the Mighty Sparrow, Westsail 32, in late 2015. Within two years he set off on a solo non-stop circumnavigation around the world. After 271 days at sea the trip was a success and covered nearly 30,000 miles. This single adventure placed the Mighty Sparrow with only a handful of small boats to complete what was once dubbed the “impossible route.”
On November 14th, 2022, Jerome and the Mighty Sparrow departed from Rockland Maine intending on a 4–5 month voyage through the Trade Winds of the North and South Atlantic Oceans. Within days of leaving the Gulf of Maine, Jerome and the Mighty Sparrow were battling against low pressure system after system. Just beyond the dangers of the Gulf Stream, one wave would change the voyage in seconds.
With considerable damage and missing critical gear from the deck, Jerome held fast through one of the longest and scariest nights he had ever spent at sea. From that point it would take three weeks of sailing to reach the safety of port. The lessons learned throughout this experience were of such value that Jerome no longer sees it as a failure, but as a true success.
The ocean has always been Jerome’s greatest teacher. Taking on the challenges presented by lone offshore sailing start on land but extend far into the deep blue sea. Changing weather, equipment failure, uncertainty and isolation are unavoidable and must be dealt with head on, the ocean has no “pause button.” It is in this world of constant challenges that experience transforms into wisdom.
Starting his sailing career on the shores of small inland lakes in Northern Michigan, Jerome Rand never imagined just how far the world of sailing would eventually take him. With a decade of sailing in the Caribbean as part of the Bitter End Yacht Club, Jerome gained experience crewing on various yacht deliveries in the North and South Atlantic Ocean. This time paved the way for his solo sailing career where he would learn some of most valuable life lessons concerning challenging oneself.
Since his around the world voyage, the adventure hasn’t stopped. In the following years Jerome has added another 40,000 sea miles to Sparrow with both good and not so good results. Tropical Storms, Pandemic Closures, and equipment failure have all played a role in the various voyages over the past four years.
