The Jadrija Lighthouse marks the entrance to Šibenik Bay in Croatia. Photography: By Xbrchx @ Adobe Stock.

From Antarctica to Paradise – the transformative power of sailing

Geoffrey Williams in conversation with James Kell, the Founder of Sailing Virgins

James Kell has kissed the ground exactly once in his life – after surviving 55-knot winds south of the Greek island of Lesbos, “… in what felt like nature's attempt to turn our sailing boat into driftwood. But here's the thing about that terrifying night – I wasn't alone. Even though I'd started that trip as a solo traveller, the ocean had already worked its magic.”

James is the Founder of Sailing Virgins – an adventure sailing academy that has taken thousands of people – including many solo travellers – across oceans from the Caribbean to French Polynesia. “We started in the Virgin Islands (hence the cheeky name),” James tells The Solo Traveller, “But I've since skippered boats everywhere from Antarctica to the South Pacific.”

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At 19, James found himself on an engineering exchange in Hamburg, Germany, “… my first real solo adventure. I remember standing in a dormitory corridor on one of my first nights, hearing laughter from other rooms and feeling this strange cocktail of loneliness and exhilaration. I was completely untethered from everything familiar, which was terrifying and liberating in equal measure.”

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“What struck me most was how quickly vulnerability became my superpower. Within days, I'd connected with other exchange students who were all feeling that same beautiful awkwardness of being alone in a foreign place. We were all hungry for connection, and somehow being solo made us more open to it. That experience taught me that solo travel isn't about being alone – it's about being open.”

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Through Sailing Virgins, James has created what could be called “structured freedom” for solo travellers. “Our week-long sailing adventures bring together small groups of like-minded adventurers – typically 4–6 people per boat – in places like the British Virgin Islands, French Polynesia, where the crystalline waters offer solo adventurers a chance to disconnect from the world and reconnect with themselves, and Croatia, which offers brilliant opportunities for solo travellers – once the Croatians warm up to you!”

Sailing courses are a great way for solo travellers to meet new like-minded people. Photography: Sailing Virgins.

“Sailing forces you out of your comfort zone in the best possible way. You must interact with your fellow crew – there's no hiding in your hotel room when you’re sharing a 40-foot boat in the middle of the ocean. But paradoxically, sailing also gives you the most profound solitude. There's nothing quite like taking the night watch alone under a blanket of stars, with just the sound of water against the hull.”

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“My favourite place on earth for solo travellers is French Polynesia. The Tahitian concept of mana – spiritual energy – is real. I've watched the most reserved, anxious solo travellers transform after a week sailing between atolls, snorkelling with sharks, and sharing fresh fish with Polynesian families on remote islands. The food, the people, the sailing conditions – it's all so good it feels like cheating.”

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But, as James is quick to point out, “It's not all Instagram sunsets. I've worked on expedition boats in Antarctica where the isolation is so complete it changes you. I've weathered storms that make you question every life choice. These experiences don't just create memories – they create resilience. The magic happens in the contrast – one day you’re battling 6-metre swells, working as a team just to keep the boat upright. The next, you're anchored in a pristine lagoon, reading a book in complete silence while tropical fish swim beneath your feet. Solo travellers arrive seeking adventure or escape, and they leave with both, plus a tribe of new friends scattered across the globe.”

Geoffrey Williams is the Founder and Publishing Curator of The Solo Traveller.