. >> reporter: bill pinkney chronicled his solo sail around the world, as the first african americanthe great southern capes, in his 1992 video diary and documentary. >> it's been very, very rough. seven days i've had nothing but bad weather. the boat has been knocked on its side a couple of times. >> reporter: raised on chicago's southside, in a fatherless home, often on public assistance, attending inner city public schools, bill pinkney's sailing accomplishments are all the more extraordinary. >> the fact that i was black meant that statistically, before i was 21, i would be either be killed from crime of violence on drugs or incarcerated. now, i never believed the statistics. >> reporter: now 85, he's retired in puerto rico, where he first learned how to sail small cargo skiffs while stationed here with the navy in the '50s. >> i was a terrible student, but i read this book entitled“ call to courage” about a young man who was an outcast with the people on this island in polynesia. i held that as my dream for great adventure in my life. >> reporter: after a successful career as a