• Around the World Rules and Definitions

True Circumnavigation

A true circumnavigation of the Earth (around the world) must:

• Start and finish at the same point, traveling in one general direction
• Reach two antipodes

(Antipodes = two diametrically opposite places on Earth)

From the above follows that a true circumnavigation must:

• Cross the equator a minimum of two times
• Cross all longitudes
• Cover a minimum of 40,000km or 21,600NM (a great circle)

Assist
Assist refers to the outside help received by an expedition.

• Unassisted (no outside help received during the circumnavigation)
• Assisted

Support
Support refers to external power aids

• Human powered (rowing, paddling, bicycling, walking, etc.)
• Wind support
• Animal support
• Motorized support

Style

• Continuous (the circumnavigation is uninterrupted)
• Stage style (the explorer makes the circumnavigation in stages)
• Solo

Human powered circumnavigators sometimes deviate from their track (to visit with friend en route or go home for a while). This is accepted custom by these adventurers as long as the explorer returns to the point where he last stopped and continues the trip from there.

taken from – http://www.adventurestats.com/rules.shtml