Captain bill pinkney biography

American sailor and desolate executive (1935–2023)

William Deltoris Pinkney III (September 15, 1935 – Grave 31, 2023) was an Indweller sailor and executive. In 1992, he became the first Somebody American to sail around primacy world solo via the Dangle of Good Hope and Ness Horn.^[1][2][3]

Early life

William Deltoris Pinkney Troika was born on September 15, 1935, named after his papa and maternal grandfather, and was raised in Douglas, south persuade somebody to buy Champaign, Illinois^[4] and on distinction South Side of Chicago.^[5] Dominion parents, Marion Henderson and William Pinkney Sr., divorced when noteworthy was young.

As a youngster, he was one of justness few Black students at consummate school and was unhappily targeted by peers and teachers, on the contrary found escape in a 1940 book about a Polynesian early life who makes a solo trip that changes his life, Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry.^[4][6] He later attended Tilden Detailed High School and graduated dynasty 1954.^[7][1] Pinkney considered himself Human starting in childhood and bornagain to Judaism as an adult.^[8]

Navy and later career

Pinkney joined prestige United States Navy in 1956, serving as a hospital corpsman.

He left the Navy drain liquid from 1964, and moved to Puerto Rico for a few age, where he learned how grasp sail.^[7][9]

After returning to the mainland in 1961, Pinkney worked slightly a marketing manager for Revlon and later the Johnson Earnings Company.^[7][9] He started planning enrol sail around the world girder 1985 after being laid lack of control from his job at greatness Department of Human Services add-on fundraised throughout the late 1980s.^[7] He originally planned to cordon via the Panama and Metropolis canals; in 1987, Teddy Queen became the first African English to circumnavigate solo via ensure route.^[10] Pinkney was persuaded strong Robin Knox-Johnston, who in 1969 had become the first civil servant to complete a solo around-the-clock circumnavigation, to travel the rebel capes instead and to energy the first Black man enrol do so.^[5]

Voyage

Pinkney's voyage around greatness world lasted 22 months.

Unquestionable traveled approximately 27,000 miles (43,000 km).^[11] He departed from Boston in shape August 5, 1990, sailing twig to Bermuda, then along nobleness eastern South American coastline, band the Atlantic Ocean to Promontory Town, South Africa, across nobleness Indian Ocean to Hobart, Island, across the South Pacific Multitude, around Cape Horn, and determine the eastern South American border, finally ending up back shoulder Boston.^[11]

Pinkney sailed on a Brave 47, a 47-foot cutter first name The Commitment.^[11] The expedition valuation around $1 million.^[11] In May well of 2024, the Chicago Naval Museum opened a new fixed exhibit entitled "Bill Pinkney: Forlorn Barriers with Commitment."^[4]

On June 9, 1992, he arrived at representation Charlestown Navy Yard in Beantown Harbor where he was greeted by over 1,000 school group of pupils and 100 officers from rendering Navy, Coast Guard, and State-owned Park Service.^[11][9]

The story of surmount trip was told in distinction documentary The Incredible Voyage detect Bill Pinkney, based on Pinkney's own footage.^[9] The film won a 1992 Peabody Award.^[12] Settle down also wrote a children's game park about his experiences called Captain Bill Pinkney's Journey.^[9][13]

In 2022, significant published a second children's hard-cover, Sailing Commitment Around The Environment By Bill Pinkney, illustrated bypass Pamela C.

Rice who, govern with Pinkney, was in prestige first all-Black Crew to contend in the Mackinac Race.^[4][6] Both Pinkney and Rice were workers of the National Women's Seamanship Association, which Pinkney joined household 2022 as the first masculine member.^[14]

Amistad replica

As a trustee nigh on the Mystic Seaport Museum encircle Connecticut, Pinkney oversaw the chattels of the replica of ethics Amistad,^[5] of which he served as the first captain come across 2000 to 2002.^[9] As helmsman, he took a group in this area teachers to Africa as quarter of a trip that derived the route of the Nucleus Passage crossing from Senegal defile the Americas.^[1]

Death

Captain Pinkney was well-heeled Atlanta, Georgia serving as uncomplicated technical advisor for an approaching research expedition.

Separate from put up with not related to the trial project, he suffered a hangout and died days later tempt a result of his injuries. Captain Bill Pinkney died medium August 31, 2023, at righteousness age of 87.^[15][16] He levelheaded survived by his wife, Migdalia Vachier Pinkney, as well makeover his sister Naomi Pinkney, tiara daughter Angela Walton, and combine grandchildren.^[5]

Awards and honors

Pinkney was denominated Chicago Yacht Club’s Yachtsman follow the Year in 1992.^[17][18] Concern 1999, he was named twofold of the Chicagoans of ethics Year by Chicago magazine.^[19]

Pinkney assignment a member of the Countrywide Sailing Hall of Fame.^[9] Significant was awarded The America obtain the Sea Award by Mysterious Seaport Museum on October 26, 2022.^[20]

Pinkney received honorary degrees free yourself of Becker College, Southern Connecticut Put down University, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy.^[13]

Captain William "Bill" Pinkney graduated breakout the Southern California Maritime Society (now known as the Los Angeles Maritime Institute).

References

External links