A man has left people stunned after sailing to middle of the Pacific Ocean on his own.
Luke, who goes by “Sailing Songbird” on TikTok, uses the social media platform to share videos of his life after giving up his career as a teacher. The content creator used to teach music at Washington Middle School in Seattle before giving up his career to follow his dreams.
He has since amassed over 900,000 followers as he details he journey across French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean all alone.
In a viral clip, the content creator revealed that he has surpassed a full month out in the Pacific, and decided that on day 31 he would do paddle-boarding for some “exercise”.
He then turned the camera around to show viewers his surroundings and said: “I’m stuck here in the doldrums. There is no wind.”
Check out his video below:
@sailing_songbird So disorienting with nothing on the horizon 🤯 #sailing #solosailor #paddleboard ♬ original sound – SV Songbird
Luke showed a screenshot of his location on Google Maps, where he was “about as far away from land as you can be on this planet,” with Mexico appearing to be one of the closest destinations, albeit a long distance away.
“So I pumped up my inflatable paddleboard and getting some exercise in,” he continued, adding that it is “disorienting” to paddle-board with “absolutely nothing on the horizon”.
“I am well over 1,000 miles away from any piece of land and it’s so quiet,” he remarked. “This definitely feels like one of the more incredible things I’m privileged enough to experience.”
Shocked viewers flooded Luke’s comment section with their reactions, sharing that they could never sail in the Pacific Ocean on their own.
One user said their thalassophobia – which is an intense phobia or fear of large or deep water – “could neverrrrr,” while another chimed in: “The best thing about sailing across the Pacific Ocean alone is that you do not have to do it.”
A third interjected: “Bro.. inflatable paddle board? Sun is setting AND YOURE THAT FAR FROM YOUR BOAT???” and a fourth added: “You just keep saying words that make me panic.”
Others were more amazed by Luke’s phone signal, as one person questioned: “Damn the Pacific got Wi-Fi ?” and another added: “How does your phone battery get charged?”
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Meanwhile, a few stunned users shared comments about the remote “Point Nemo,” which is located in the South Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and Chile, and 1,670 miles (2,688km) from land, according to BBC.
“Literally just learned about Point Nemo and that’s all I can think about watching this. Get back to your boat sir!!!” someone commented.
A second added: “Bro you’re almost at point Nemo!!! Come back!!”
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The TikToker used to teach music at Washington Middle School in Seattle before circumnavigating the world in a sailboat.
Speaking to Komo News, he said: “I had the dream of sailing around the world. I came across a YouTube video a couple of years ago that was just like a boat tour of a vessel that was fully equipped to live off-grid and I became just fascinated with sailing and kind of obsessed with it.”
Luke’s new to sailing on his own, and has only ever hitchhiked around Mexico on other people’s boats. He knows there are difficulties such as storms, high winds, and high seas, but said they’re challenges he’s willing to face to live out his dream.
“If you have a dream then you can do it,” he said. “There’s so much time and if you use that time well, you can achieve any dream that you have.”
