In 2007, Donna Lange set out from Portsmouth’s Brewers Sakonnet Marina aboard her Bristol-built Southern Cross 28 on a two-year voyage that would take her around the world.

Now the 53-year-old grandmother, musician and oceans activist is back — this time in Bristol.

Her boat, Inspired Insanity, is moored for the moment out from the Elks Club as she recruits supporters and stocks up for a more ambitious attempt.

She’ll sail around the world again, Ms. Lange says, but this time non-stop (last time she made three stops). If she manages that she’ll become the first American woman to achieve the feat, and in a boat that, while stout, is older by far, smaller and slower than the sort of boat used in most ocean attempts these days.

What’s more, she’ll follow a challenging route — trade winds toward Europe, then south below Africa and around Antarctica via the Roaring Forties.  It’s a shorter route but one with relentless waves and wind.

And she’ intends to do it without reliance on electronic navigation.

“GPS is not being used,” Ms. Lange said.  “I am sailing as sailors did when finding their way was the true adventure and a necessary skill for going offshore. I intend to highlight the need for genuine seamanship  skills in this day of high tech lassitude. The ocean, as we all know, is not humbled by electronic equipment. Though the benefits of having the new digital equipment are obvious, they should not be a substitute for genuine seamanship skills.”

To that end she said she took an “apprenticeship” with Bristol’s Halsey Herreshoff on the use of compass and sextant.

“I will be self-reliant and immersed in sailing technology, as was required before the 12 volt digital revolution.”

Bristol is an appropriate place to launch her adventure, Ms. Lange said, and feels like home since she’s been setting sail from this port on voyages since 2002.

And it’s a good place to find the sort of expertise and gear needed to bring a boat of this vintage up to the challenges ahead.

“Like many mariners, I’ve learned that the cluster of marine services around Bristol makes this a very efficient place to prepare for long trips … This is the second time my boat Inspired Insanity has been outfitted in Bristol for a global trip.”

And as before, a number here have stepped up to help. She said she has been provided with places to moor her boat, stay ashore, maintenance, bottom paint, electronics gear, deck hardware, sails, emergency flotation equipment, public relations help and much more.

At sea, she intends to eat plenty of peanut butter.

“A 28 foot boat cannot carry 300 days of bulky supermarket food,” she said. “Yet, the heavy physical

and mental demands of solo sailing require high-energy nourishment.”  A Georgia company has provided her with a boatload of ‘PB2’ brand of powdered peanut butter which is mixed with water to be eaten.

“It’s terrific,” she said. On her previous trip around the world, she said that New Zealanders introduced her to dry bulk foods which take little space but pack a lot of energy.

Should medical issues arise, Ms. Lange, a registered nurse, has made arrangements with The Miriam Hospital in Providence for consultation via satellite.

She’s doing it again, Ms. Lange said, for a variety of reasons.

She loves the sea, both its beauty and challenges, and the self-reliance such efforts require.

“Solo sailing is a deeply personal experience which most people will never experience,” she said.

And these adventures help her spread messages that are important to her — self confidence, especially for young people and women, and respect for and the need to protect the oceans, among others.

Ms. Lange intends to embark from the Herreshoff Marine Museum at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 26 — all are invited to see her off and partake in the Seaman’s Blessing. If all goes as planned she’ll be back in May of 2016.

In the meantime she’ll be singing and playing guitar whenever preparation demands allow and has scheduled several public events:

July 15 - Bristol Rotary luncheon at noon

July 16 - Herreshoff Museum lecture,  6 p.m.

July 17 – Church Street Coffee House concert with presentation fundraiser , 7 p.m.

July 19 - Send-off party, location TBA, 4 p.m.

July 26 - Set sail from Herreshoff dock, 10 a.m.