This I know. But it's 2020 and we have engines and canals now, and have had for some time.
I don't think someone that has made multiple laps around the world on their own boat via the Panama canal has NOT circumnavigated. If I kept sailing west and re-crossed my route in Trinidad I'd consider...
For racing, sure.
I don't think it's unfair to state that a cruiser who has take the Panama canal and sailed all the way around the world back to where they started has circumnavigated.
So if you leave from Ecuador sailing west and come all the way around to the east side of the Panama canal, go through the canal and keep sailing due west all the way to the Philippines without re-crossing the equator it doesn't count as a circumnavigation?
Is re-crossing your original route...