On 22nd April 1969 Sir Robin Knox-Johnson became the first man in the history of this planet to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the planet under wind power alone. He made history in one of the most intriguing yacht races ever to have taken place. Bernard Moitessier who was in the same race decided after seven months at sea that he’d just carry on around and did another half a globe before stopping in Polynesia, and fellow competitor Donald Crowhurst who put everything on the line and started the race unprepared eventually to cheat, realised he’d be rumbled and suffering metal anguish stepped off his boat and died at sea. “Sir” Robin, who was then just Robin donated the entire prize fund the Crowhurst’s family.
In 2007, Sir Robin Knox-Johnson competed again and made a second circumnavigation in the yacht SAGA Insurance and finished in 4th place in the Velux 5 Oceans Race.
22nd April 2009 is the 40th Anniversary of the greatest sailing achievement on record.
Milestones
1969 Awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
1970 UK Yachtsman of the Year
1970 Royal Cruising Club Seamanship Medal.
1972 Elected a Younger Brother of Trinity House.
1972 Member of the RNLI Committee of Management
1990 Silk Cut Nautical award Seamanship Trophy
1990 Honorary Doctorate – Maine Maritime Academy
1991 Royal Cruising Club Challenge Cup
1991 Cruising World Magazine (USA) Medal of honour
1992 Royal Institute of Navigation – Gold Medal for experiments with renaissance navigation.
1992 Freeman of the City of London
1992 Awarded Honorary Doctor of Technology – Southampton University
1994 Elected Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation.
1994 The Maritime Trust’s Cutty Sark Medal
1994 IYRU World Sailor of the year.
1994 UK Yachtsman of the Year (2nd time)
1995 Hon Acadamecian, The Maritime Institute (Portugal)
1995 The Institute of Navigation (USA) Superior Achievement Award
1995 Elected President of the Little Ship Club
1995 Knighted
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
New blog post: Sir Robin Knox-Johnson #RKJ http://tinyurl.com/cjpf4o
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
In the interest of full and fair disclosure: I have not sailed around the world. I sailed in one leg of the 2005-06 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
This comment was originally posted on http://messingaboutinboats.typepad.com/sailing/)“>Messing About In Sailboats
One more: http://www.examiner.com/x-3070-SF-Sailing-Examiner~y2009m4d22-40-years-ago-today–Robin-KnoxJohnston
Great job on organizing this Adam.
This comment was originally posted on http://messingaboutinboats.typepad.com/sailing/)“>Messing About In Sailboats
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