Don’t miss the first two showings of Lonely Planet, the official documentary of The Around Alone on Sky Sports 2 tonight.

This programme tells the compelling stories of the 13 adventurers – including one woman – as they compete in the longest ever race for an individual in any sport: the Around Alone 2002-03 solo, round the world yacht race.

On September 15, 2002, 20 years after the first edition of this historic yacht race, and in commemoration of the tragic events of September 11, these 13 brave skippers, representing 10 different countries, set off together from beneath ‘Ground Zero’ in New York Harbour, on the first of five legs, which would take them on an incredible 28,000 mile marathon sprint, stopping in England, South Africa, New Zealand and Brazil before finishing in Newport, Rhode Island eight months later.

Live through the skippers’ personal triumphs and disasters on the high seas as their every exploit and emotion are exposed on film, mostly recorded by themselves on board the yachts as they discover their own ultimate desires and fears along the life-changing journey around the globe.

In Memoriam: this documentary gives tribute to Italian skipper Simone Bianchetti, who tragically died two months after finishing third in Around Alone on his Open 60 ‘Tiscali’.

Broadcast schedule

Monday September 22 (1830) Sky Sports 2

Monday September 22 (2400) Sky Sports Xtra

Tuesday September 23 (0400) Sky Sports 2

Tuesday September 23 (1400) Sky Sports 2