45 th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox Johnston's circumnavigation

45th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's record circumnavigation

Man hadn’t yet walked on the moon. 45 years ago, sailing solo non-stop

around the world was as big an adventure as space travel is today and

even now, fewer people have sailed solo around the planet than have

orbited it above the atmosphere.

On 22 April 1969, Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to

sail solo non-stop around the world after successfully completing the

Sunday Times Golden Globe race, aboard his 32 foot ketch Suhaili.

He had none of the modern technological aids sailors regard as

standard today and even his radio failed for the majority of the

ten month (312 days) 30,000 mile groundbreaking journey.

Reflecting on his historic feat, Sir Robin said: 'It is hard to believe

45 years have passed since the day I completed that first historic

circumnavigation. I’m still incredibly proud of the achievement,

which was the start of many, memorable moments that I am proud

of throughout my years at sea.

Ocean racing has always been a fundamental part of his life and as

he prepares for his latest sols challenge, at age 75, he is delighted to

say that his thirst for thrills and adventures has not ceased.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is one of Britain’s most celebrated mariners

and this autumn he will compete again in a solo transatlantic race,

the classic Route du Rhum.

Following his first circumnavigation, he skippered 'Condor' to Line

Honours in two legs of the 1977/8 Whitbread Race; co-skippered

'Enza New Zealand' with the late Peter Blake to take the Jules Verne

Trophy in 1994 for the fastest circumnavigation of the world; and

completed the Velux5Oceans solo round the world race in fourth

position in 2006/7, at the age of 68.

In 1996 he created the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race (www.clipperroundtheworld.com) to offer people from all walks

of life and ages the experience of ocean racing together with

the opportunity of completing a circumnavigation.

Over 4,000 people have since been introduced to sailing through the

unique event which is now the longest in the world at 40,000 miles and

is currently three quarters of the way through its ninth edition.

After competing with the Clipper Race fleet in the Australian classic 

Sydney-Hobart last December, Sir Robin recognised his competitive 

sailing days were far from over. Last month he announced his entry 

in the Route de Rhum solo transatlantic challenge in his Open 60 

yacht Grey Power.

'Solo sailing is where I feel most at home,' Sir Robin confessed. 'No 

one else can benefit you or let you down; it is all in my hands.'

The tenth anniversary edition of the 3,500 mile Route de Rhum 

from St Malo in France to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe 

starts on 2 November 2014.

Aboard 'Suhaili'

...video finish of Sir Robin's historic circumnavigation... ..and now ready for more adventures....