On June 9, 1992, Captain William Pinkney sailed his boat, "Commitment" into Boston Harbor after completing a 22-month solo circumnavigation of the globe, a voyage that covered 27,000 miles. The first Black man to sail solo around the world via Cape Horn. Captain Bill's journey is made that much more special by what he chose to do with it: send an inspirational message to school children about dreams, education and, above all, commitment.
A checkered career is how Bill Pinkney describes his life that has had such varied occupations as: make-up artist, high steel mechanic, x-ray technician, civil servant, limbo dancer and corporate executive. combining those skills with a liberal dose of “street smarts” picked up on Chicago's Southside. this self taught “renaissance man” has over his 70 years, managed to create adventures and life skills that in the retelling have thrilled and inspired thousands to make their dreams realities. An extremely accomplished seaman, the captain has sailed to South Africa, Tasmania, Brazil, Senegal, Ghana, Uruguay, Bermuda, Barbados and Puerto Rico. Drawing on experiences of his exciting solo sail around the world and life as Master of Amistad the reproduction schooner of the 1839 incident,(see www.amistadamerica.org) Pinkney weaves stories of high adventure and hard-learned inspirational` truths into a sometime humorous and always enjoyable session that will enlighten, inspire and entertain audiences from 1st graders to hard bitten corporate types.
Featured in People Magazine three times and subject of numerous television specials and features including The Fox Family Channel Series ”Courage” hosted by Danny Glover featured his story. CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood did an in-depth story about his 1999 sail to Africa. his Peabody award winning documentary, “The Incredible Voyage of Bill Pinkney” was aired on the Disney Channel and numerous public stations. His autobiography: ”As Long As It Takes” by Bunker Hill Publishing won the John Southam Award from Sail America.
