A man from Oregon got tired of his corporate job and chose to hop on a boat and sail the seas. Now, he is embarking on a journey only a small number of sailors have completed: a solo, nonstop trip around the world. After years of working toward the goal, Oliver Widger has officially set sail.
The man in question is none other than Oliver Widger. He is a content creator whose journey began years ago, when he decided he had had enough of his corporate career with a tire company. After 11 years on the job, Oliver eventually emptied his 401(k), sold his possessions, bought a sailboat, and began teaching himself how to sail.
The Oregon man starts his clip with a flashback. Years ago, Oliver recorded himself in his car, fed up with his corporate career and talking about his desire to leave it behind and eventually sail around the world. He had also been diagnosed with Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare spinal condition that carried a risk of paralysis and helped push him to rethink what he wanted to do with his life.
Setting Sail
Eventually, Oliver decided he needed a big change. He quit his job and began working toward the sailing dream he’d talked about for years. His first major open-ocean test came in 2025, when the self-taught sailor traveled from Oregon to Hawaii with his cat, Phoenix, by his side.
Oliver completed the trip in 24 days, arriving in Honolulu to a crowd of supporters. But sailing around the world remained the bigger goal. He eventually began preparing a different boat, Phoenix do Mar, for a much more difficult challenge. This time, Phoenix the cat would stay safely on land while Oliver attempted to sail solo around the world without stopping.
Around the World Without Stopping
Oliver has now officially started the journey he spent years talking about. In early October, he departed Washington aboard Phoenix do Mar to begin his solo, nonstop attempt to sail around the world.
The planned journey covers roughly 30,000 miles and is expected to keep him at sea for around eight to nine months before, if everything goes according to plan, bringing him back to Port Townsend, Washington. Unlike his trip to Hawaii, Oliver won’t have Phoenix the cat keeping him company this time.
“I am finally doing the thing that I said I was gonna do. It’s been a lot of work. The journey should take me somewhere in the realm of eight to nine months. I’m leaving Port Townsend, Washington, and hopefully sailing back to Port Townsend, Washington,” the Oregon man said. “[…] Wish me luck.”
Reactions
Many viewers who know Oliver’s journey well became emotional as he fulfilled his sailboating dream. One said, “I’ve never been more proud of someone I’ve never met. Seriously, man, we’re all cheering for you.” Another one commented, “You’re living. You’re actually doing it. Not just saying you will, but you are actually doing it.”
Others saw how much Oliver evolved throughout the years and became even more emotional. One wrote, “The change in your voice from a dying soul to ALIVE is amazing! Good luck!” Another one added, “Thanks for bringing us along on your journey.”
Those followers now have an even bigger journey to follow. After years of talking about sailing around the world, Oliver has finally left Washington and started the roughly 30,000-mile trip.
If everything goes according to plan, he’ll spend the next eight to nine months alone at sea before eventually returning to where the journey began. Phoenix may be sitting this adventure out, but Oliver’s goal from years ago is no longer in his plans. He’s doing it.
