Full Breakdown
Australian Father and Daughter Near Completion of 18,000-Nautical-Mile World Voyage
6/7/2026, 10:35:52 PM
From Sydney to Cornwall: The 18,000-Nautical-Mile Circumnavigation
In March 2025, 59-year-old sailor Rob Donald and his 18-year-old daughter Freya left New South Wales on the 9.8 m wooden yacht *Misha*. Over 15 months they logged roughly 18 000 nautical miles, navigating the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope and up the Atlantic to Penzance, Cornwall, where they are preparing for the final stretch to the Netherlands and Norway.
The 1937 Yacht *Misha* and the Voyage’s Goal
*Misha* was built in 1937 by a Dutch boat-building firm. Rob bought the vessel in France in 1989, sailed it to Australia and later back to Europe. He aims to bring the yacht back to the Netherlands to demonstrate its continued seaworthiness.
Rob and Freya Donald: Crew Profiles
Rob Donald, a seasoned sailor with three decades of experience commanding large vessels, is married to Hanne Donald, who chose not to join the trip. Freya, who turned 19 during the voyage, spent time crocheting, watching movies and assisting with navigation and fishing.
Route Overview
- March 2025 – Sydney to Bali, Indonesia.
- May 2025 – 24-day Indian Ocean crossing to Madagascar.
- June-July 2025 – Mozambique, South Africa, rounding the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Town.
- August 2025 – Prostate cancer diagnosis; return to Australia for single-port robotic surgery.
- September-October 2025 – Resumption from Cape Town, passage to St Helena and the Azores.
- November 2025 – Arrival in Penzance after a 50-knot, 6-metre sea crossing of the Bay of Biscay.
Voyage Metrics
The yacht measures 9.8 m (31 ft). The crew covered about 18 000 nautical miles in 15 months, including a 24-day Indian Ocean leg and a week of daily tuna meals after a tiger shark split a catch.
Health Challenge and Cabin Dynamics
Rob disclosed that a prostate cancer diagnosis in Cape Town led him to fly back to Australia for the country’s first single-port robotic prostate surgery, after which he received clearance to rejoin the vessel. He also said the cabin is organized with separate bunks and personal headphones, allowing both to respect each other’s space while at sea.
Verbatim Quotes
- “wouldn't trade for the world” — Freya Donald, daughter and crew member
- “ Luckily, Rob said the surgeon gave him the all clear: "If I had left the boat in Cape Town any longer I would have missed the weather window, to get from Cape Town out to St Helena.” — Rob Donald, captain
- “We caught half a yellowfin tuna once because a tiger shark took the other half," laughed Rob.” — Rob Donald
- “He added: "The surgeon said 'come back next month' and I said 'no, I can't.” — Rob Donald
Significance of the Expedition
The journey illustrates the durability of a vintage wooden yacht under modern long-distance use and showcases intergenerational teamwork in demanding maritime conditions, including health setbacks and wildlife encounters.
Upcoming Leg to the Netherlands and Norway
After a brief stop in Falmouth, the pair will sail to the Netherlands and then to Norway, completing the circumnavigation. Hanne Donald will join them in the United Kingdom to celebrate Rob’s 60th birthday before the final leg.
