Award of Literary Excellence UK
Sailing Conference, Milwaukee, WI May 15th. 2026
Judge of the 38th Annual IBPABook Awards Competition, "helping each other to achieve and succeed."
CMM Public Access Show Making Waves
Episode 5: Celebrate Black History Month with a special guest Pamela Rice, the woman who founded Black Chicago Sailors
Pamela C. Rice formed the first crew composed of both male and female African American skippers to take part in the Chicago to Mackinaw Race, with Solo-circumnavigator William Pinkney
Enter TextA new children's book written by Captain Bill Pinkney and illustrated by noted Chicago artist Pamela C. Rice, tells the story of Captain Bill's historic solo sail around the world in 1990. Sailing Commitment Around the World aims to inspire readers from 8 to 12-years-old with stories, adventures, and sights of the voyage and the lessons Captain Bill learned at sea: dream big, persevere and don't be distracted by hurdles that come with moving forward.
"From first page to last, Captain Bill Pinkney's captivating children's book, Sailing Commitment Around the World, is nothing less than a delight," says Cruising World Magazine's executive editor, Herb McCormick. "Beautifully illustrated with full-color paintings by noted artist Pamela C. Rice, the book is most certainly a true-life adventure tale, but it's also something even better: an inspirational story about a kid with a dream - like all kids - who ultimately had the courage and drive to fully realize it. With simple but memorable prose, and a message with lessons learned that will resonate with readers young and old, Captain Pinkney's Commitment wasn't just the name of his boat, it was the driving force behind a historic, once-in-a-lifetime voyage. Bravo."
A product of the Chicago Public Schools, Captain Bill's solo efforts were tracked and used in Chicago and Boston public schools during his voyage. Gaining his sea legs on Lake Michigan, Captain Bill is proud to say he is a freshwater sailor who turned “salty." Though his book is focused on youngsters, adults will enjoy following the adventures that took place during this South Sider's middle-age years.
Captain Bill is both the first Black man to solo sail around the Earth via Cape Horn, and to receive the "Lifetime Achievement Award '' by the National Sailing Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. He is the author of two other books: Captain Bill Pinkney’s Journey, a Basal reader for first graders and his autobiography, As Long as It Takes. The documentary of his voyage won the George Foster Peabody award for children's programming. This fall, Mystic Seaport Museum will present Pinkney with the “America and the Sea” award at a gala in New York City.
An exhibit of his artifacts and audio-visual presentation is being planned by the Chicago Maritime Museum for later this year....
National Women's Sailing Association
NWSA She Sailor Sea Story with Captain Bill Pinkney and Pam Rice
Pam Rice — In The News
Captain Bill Pinkney on Rice