Oliver Widger, 29, successfully completed a solo sailing voyage from Oregon to Hawaii with his cat Phoenix, becoming a viral sensation and source of inspiration for millions along the way. His journey and arrival documented his transformation from a disillusioned corporate manager to a social media star chronicling a solo ocean adventure.
According to a report by People magazine, Widger amassed 1.8 million followers on Instagram after quitting his job a manager at a tire company. His decision came in the wake of a medical diagnosis for Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare bone disorder in which vertebrae in the neck are fused together. It can cause muscle weakness and even paralysis. The diagnosis prompted him to radically change his life. “It shook up my world and it changed my perspective on everything,” he said.
After a year of preparation and refitting a $50,000 Com-Pac 33 sailboat he purchased after cashing out his 401K account, Widger set sail in April from the Oregon coast. He had taught himself to sail using YouTube videos and relied on social media under the handle Sailing with Phoenix to document life at sea and fund his dream of circumnavigating the globe.
During his 24-day solo voyage, Widger endured seasickness, treacherous weather, boat repairs, and exhaustion. At one point, he was locked in the engine compartment and had to pry himself out with a wrench. On another occasion, his rudder failed, and the boat listed dangerously in the surf for three hours while he made emergency repairs.
Despite being a novice sailor, Widger tried to emphasized safety throughout the trip. He carried a satellite phone and an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), a critical device for emergency rescues in the Pacific. “That’s a really critical piece for anybody that’s getting motivated by his story to go set off on their own adventure,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Harms of the U.S. Coast Guard in Hawaii.
He used a Starlink satellite system for internet access, to document his trip online.
Widger and Phoenix, a female calico, arrived in Oahu on Saturday, May 24, where a welcome was organized by the Waikiki Yacht Club. The celebration began even before they docked, with boats rowing and paddling alongside them to escort them in. Guests, including journalists and Hawaii Governor Josh Green, began lining up 45 minutes before the event began.
Speaking to the crowd, Widger admitted feeling overwhelmed and physically disoriented after nearly a month at sea. “I just feel like I have to, like, hold on to things to not fall over,” he said. “It’s just the world’s in a weird place, and I think people have seen that it’s possible to break out.”
Widger’s story, a mix of daring, vulnerability, and determination, continues to resonate online. “Everything I’ve done I thought was impossible,” he previously told the Associated Press. “Sailing around the world is such a ridiculous dream. Whatever your dream is, just go, just do it.”
