The Life Teachings of Captain William ‘Bill’ Pinkney

In honor of Black History Month, we have researched some prominent black figures in our community whose values reflect our mission: To connect people to the water through education and recreation. This week, we are excited to highlight someone who has impacted the black community and the sailing community in just that way!

Meet William "Bill" Pinkney; only the second African American to sail solo around the world! Even though he might not have been the first person to carry out this achievement, we wanted to recognize the way Pinkney shared his journey for education and the work he did after!

William was in 7th grade when he read "Call It Courage" by Armstrong Perry. This book instilled a sense of wonder and curiosity in him, and he promised himself that one day he would go on a great adventure. Forty-three years later, after dabbling in careers spanning every industry from makeup to human services, Bill found himself unemployed at the age of 50 and without a great adventure in sight. He remembered the promise he made to himself as a child and wondered about the legacy he would leave for his grandchildren.

William Pinkney then turned to his passion for sailing and decided to sail around the world, solo. Bill had been sailing for 30 years, starting when he was in the Navy as a corpsman and crewing on sailboats in the late 1950s. Circumnavigating the world alone was no easy trip, but once again, Bill wanted it to be bigger than just himself. The principal at his Alma Mater in Chicago suggested using this trip to inspire young children, while also educating them about sailing and life along the way.

With help from his family and friends, the school, and some business sponsors who loved sailing, Bill acquired a 47ft Cutter. This sailboat, which was initially designed to be crewed by seven people, had to be outfitted for just a crew of one. He named the boat Commitment to honoring the promise he made to himself, his grandchildren, and the school children that he would complete this journey.

On August 5th, 1990, at the age of 55, William "Bill" Pinkney headed out of Boston Harbor knowing that 1,000 school children were also hoping that he would make it through the trip as they listened by radio every step of the way. Unlike other sailors who have completed the solo circumnavigation, he planned to take on the most formidable sailing challenges. His planned route included rounding the five capes: Cape Horn (CHL), Cape Aguhkas (SA), Cape Leeuwin (AUS), South East Cape (AUS), and South Cape (NZ).

From Boston, Bill sailed to Bermuda, where he had to stop and fix a gear shift problem. Afterward, he continued down to Salvador De Bahia in Brazil, which was a significant site for the slave trade in the 1600s. From Brazil, he crossed 3,000 miles (about the width of the United States) in 34 days (about one month, three and a half days) to South Africa around Cape Aguhkas. After the cape, he fought two weeks of harsh weather where his boat was knocked over twice!  

Pickney was alone, so when he slept, he counted on his radar to warn him of other ships. One night his radar awoke him to a huge container ship coming into his path. It came so close to him that his whole boat shook. Bill shared that he could see that the crew was laughing and taking pictures of him on this small sailboat. 

In April 1991, after about two months and 5,300 miles, Pinkney landed in Tasmania, Southern Australia. Because of the severe weather he faced on the sail over, it pushed back his timetable, and by the time he made it to Australia winter set in. Unfortunately, the weather only became worse and Bill was forced to take a 6-month hiatus in Australia. In October, Bill started up again and prepared to make the long journey from Australia to Cape Horn in Chile, traveling 4,600 miles to his destination in over 65 days. 

Sailing around Cape Horn is one of the biggest challenges for any sailor because of the fierce storms that frequent the area. As a result, thousands of sailors have perished trying to make it around the cape. For 48 hours, the winds and waves beat on Pinkney. Because this was the end of the journey most of Commitment’s navigation equipment had stopped working. Determined, Pickney did not give up and made it around the cape. The first thing he did was check-in with all the school children that were following his adventure. From there, he sailed back to Boston, where he landed on June 9th, 1992, after around two years and 27,000 miles. Pinkney was greeted in Boston by over 1000 people who all followed his journey on the radio. Pickney’s adventure captured the imagination of many ranging from school children to business executives.

Pinkney's work did not stop there. After his excursion, he continued to inspire and educate children in schools, authoring a book for elementary school-aged children about his journey and speaking in schools about his experience sailing. His work delved more deeply into sailing, history, culture, and diversity. He decided he wanted to make another voyage, however this time different. He planned to replicate the voyage of the middle passage, which transported slaves sold from Africa to the colonies, in order to teach about the abhorrent conditions and hardships the slaves all faced every day of their lives. He recruited teachers from all over the country to come sailing for this six-month journey, traveling to various places where slave ships would have brought the slaves. Along the way, he explained the appalling history of what they would go through. Bill stayed connected with thousands of students during this voyage through the internet and satellite tv. 

William Pinkney continued sailing and speaking of his travels to schools and businesses around the country. He also played a key role in the restoration of La Amistad, a slave ship in which slaves rebelled, took over, and were eventually free. Bill was asked to be captain of La Amistad, which would sail students and people of all ages while educating them about the history and issues of racial inequality in the United States. According to the Washington Post, Bill said "This boat is about a passport to freedom. It's about resourcefulness and perseverance and self-reliance and commitment."

For sailing around the world and his education work, Bill was honored as the Chicago Yacht Club Yachtsman of the Year in 1992. Chicago Magazine named him Chicagoan of the year in 1999. He has been on the board of the Mystic Seaport Museum as well as La Amistad. Pinkney was also recognized by President George H.W. Bush and received the Illinois Governor's Distinguished Achievement Award.

Connecting people across oceans and across time, William Pinkey showed the world that sailing is much more than a sport and that through his innovative ways of educating the public, he could change the world. At The WaterFront Center, we also believe in the power of sailing to educate and change hearts and minds. Our education programs aboard the historic oyster sloop Christeen follow in the footsteps of great educators like Pinkey, taking students and families back to the 1900s when oysters were abundant in our waters, and the world relied on sailing as the workhorse industry.  

We’ve been fortunate to have had La Amistad visit Oyster Bay Harbor. It is our hope that the next time this historic vessel visits Oyster Bay and docks at the West Harbor Pier, you will have the opportunity to climb aboard and walk the same deck as William Pinkey. 

"No matter who you are, where you are, or what people say, you and your dreams are important and doable."
- William 'Bill' Pinkey

Sources

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/pinkney-william-bill-1935

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/10/16/21515782/capt-bill-pinkney-bringing-sea-lessons-remarkable-life-chicago-maritime-museum-festival

https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/pinkney-bill-1935