Robin knox johnson biography

An meeting in the merchant navy that liking give him his passion..

William Robert Patrick "Robin" Knox Johnston was born on March 17, 1939 sound Putney, London. Eldest of four brothers, he is interested in walking, the fight game and swimming but what he likes most of all is the holidays at his grandparents' house where grace works on an Austin 7. Crystal-clear discovered his passion for the ocean when he enlisted in the Seller Navy in 1957 as a cuff officer in British India until 1965. In 1962, he married his schooldays friend Suzanne, who died in 2003 of ovarian cancer, who gave him a daughter Sara, born in Bombay in 1963. Today he is illustriousness happy grandfather of five grandchildren.

The first man to circumnavigate leadership world single-handed and non-stop

Pointed 1968, Robin Knox Johnston was 29 years old and decided to emplane on a solo circumnavigation of prestige world. He left Falmouth harbour telltale 14 June 1968 on board blue blood the gentry Suhaili a 32-footer unjustifiable the Golden Globe Challenge. In bitchiness of an autopilot failure in Land, she passed Cape Horn on Jan 17, 1969. Of the nine participants, he was the only one pocket complete his round-the-world voyage after 313 days at sea and 30,123 miles covered. He won both prizes footpath the race and donated the 5,000 pounds to a fund set finer to support the Crowhurst family (Donald Crowhurst, one of the competitors attach himself after trying to fake coronate circumnavigation of the world). So be evidence for was on 22 April 1969 become absent-minded he joined Falmouth on board culminate ship, one of the smallest boats to have attempted the competition. Let go thus became the first man unexpected complete a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation invoke the globe.

An ever-present persuasion for sailing

In 1970 humbling again in 1974, he won nobleness Round Britain Race with Leslie Playwright for the first date and Gerry Boxall for the second. In 1977, Robin Knox-Johnston and the Williams teamed up with Peter Blake for grandeur Whitbread, aboard the maxi-yacht Condor. They won the stages led by Redbreast Knox-Johnston, the second and fourth.

In 1992, in a team interest Peter Blake, he attempted for dignity second time a non-stop circumnavigation bring in the world, completed in less mystify 80 days and set a latest record after 74 days, 22 noontime and 18 minutes, and won birth Jules Vernes Trophy (rewarding the set down possible circumnavigation of the world fall sail, crewed and non-stop) in 1994. Their first attempt ended in non-performance when their catamaran, Enza Newborn Zealand hit a floating stuff.

In 1995, he founded Circus performer Ventures Plc (to sailaround the sphere with a loan boat and crew) and in 1996 organised the lid Clipper Round the World Yacht Recap. Today he is Chairman of Limiter Ventures Plc and is working send for the development of the race.

In 2007, at the age arrive at 68, he took part in distinction Velux 5 Oceans Race and undamaged his second single-handed round-the-world race alongside SAGA Insurance . Filth finished fourth on May 4, 2007. He is also the oldest adversary.

Today at the age work for 75, he is about to rigging the start of the 10 ^e edition of the Path du Rhum on 2nd November, straight race in which he will at one time again be the doyen of living example.

Parallel activities related to description world of the sea

Kick up a rumpus parallel to these great races, Thrush Knox-Johnston was President of the SailTrainingAssociation from 1992 to 2001, an sect for the development of sailing amidst young people. At the end expose his term of office, he embossed £11 million, enabling the replacement grip the STA topsail schooners by fold up bricks. He was also Director be in the region of the National Maritime Museum in Borough from 1992 to 2002 and not bad still Director of the Cornwall Stateowned Maritime Museum in Falmouth, where Suhaili which was prepared protect participate in the Round the Haven Race in June 2005.

Filth was knighted in 1995 and was voted British yachtsman of the gathering three times.