Oatmeal, cereal, dried fruit, crackers, nuts, rice, and canned stew might not be the foods that come to mind when you think of travelling the world.

But if you're packing for a six-month solo voyage on a sail boat where you don't plan on making any land stops, surviving the challenges the weather throws at you might be more of a priority than fine dining.

Bert terHart grew up in Estevan, learning to sail on Boundary Dam, before school and work brought him down to California and eventually up to British Columbia. The foods listed above are a rundown of some of his usual meals aboard The Seaburban. He's also got energy bars, canned meats, chili, potatoes, eggs, and a little bit of chocolate, and one fishing lure (he lost his first lure, so he's playing it safe with his last).

TerHart set sail October 27 (with 10 months worth of food), three weeks behind schedule due to weather and an injury, from Victoria, B.C. in an effort to become the first North American to complete a non-stop, single-handed and unassisted trip around the globe via the five great capes using only traditional navigational methods (a sextant, pen and paper, and log tables in terHart's case).

"Prior to 2019, there was only 1 person to have accomplished this feat: Sir Robin Knox Johnston. The 4 finishers in the Golden Globe Race have bumped this number to 5," terHart wrote on his blog. "Although there have been many exceptional solo-circumnavigations by North American sailors, no North American has completed a solo-circumnavigation of this sort. My goal is to be the first."

He's currently to the east of South America, having past Cape Horn, and on his way toward Cape Agulhas (at the southern tip of South Africa). You can check out his location, and see what wind patterns he's dealing with, here.

TerHart then plans to keep travelling past Cape Leeuwin (on the southwestern tip of Australia), South East Cape (on the southern tip of the island Tasmania - Australia's southernmost state), and South Cape (on the southern tip of New Zealand), before heading back northeast to Vancouver Island.

His progress has been delayed by more calms than expected, but he said it's been a otherworldly experience.

"I am continually amazed at how beautiful it is out here," he wrote in an email. "For a prairie boy, the open spaces and vast skies make me feel right at home. And if you look closely, there are any number of remarkable creatures that are always around the boat. "Of course there are birds, but there are [also] whales, porpoises, dolphins, and turtles. All matter of creatures. It is truly remarkable."

cation for it as part of his heavy weather checklist.

TerHart wanted to join the navy when he was younger, but couldn't because he is very colour blind (he said he's a nine out of 10 in its severity). But he does love the sights of the sea.

And as inspiring as those are, the trip has also been a time of insight.

"I think the trip has helped me understand and learn more about myself. You cannot help but become more aware of who and what you are when there is only you around. I think that goes a long way towards spirituality, because if you cannot know yourself, then you cannot know that which might be greater than you."

{gallery}Bert{/gallery}

TerHart called the newsroom from a satellite phone he has on board. Here's a slightly-edited version.