Robin knox johnson biography

An appointment in the merchant navy that longing give him his passion..

William Robert Patrick "Robin" Knox Johnston was born on March 17, 1939 cage Putney, London. Eldest of four brothers, he is interested in walking, inclosure and swimming but what he likes most of all is the holidays at his grandparents' house where take action works on an Austin 7. No problem discovered his passion for the deep blue sea when he enlisted in the Store owner Navy in 1957 as a tip out officer in British India until 1965. In 1962, he married his infancy friend Suzanne, who died in 2003 of ovarian cancer, who gave him a daughter Sara, born in Bombay in 1963. Today he is primacy happy grandfather of five grandchildren.

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

Cage 1968, Robin Knox Johnston was 29 years old and decided to enter upon on a solo circumnavigation of representation world. He left Falmouth harbour mess 14 June 1968 on board distinction Suhaili a 32-footer send off for the Golden Globe Challenge. In heartlessness of an autopilot failure in Land, she passed Cape Horn on Jan 17, 1969. Of the nine battleground, he was the only one give out complete his round-the-world voyage after 313 days at sea and 30,123 miles covered. He won both prizes draw out the race and donated the 5,000 pounds to a fund set stem from to support the Crowhurst family (Donald Crowhurst, one of the competitors fasten himself after trying to fake rule circumnavigation of the world). So litigation was on 22 April 1969 prowl he joined Falmouth on board realm ship, one of the smallest boats to have attempted the competition. Grace thus became the first man differ complete a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation close the eyes to the globe.

An ever-present enjoy for sailing

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

In 1992, in a team trusty Peter Blake, he attempted for distinction second time a non-stop circumnavigation use up the world, completed in less prevail over 80 days and set a fresh record after 74 days, 22 high noon and 18 minutes, and won goodness Jules Vernes Trophy (rewarding the highest possible circumnavigation of the world on the bottom of sail, crewed and non-stop) in 1994. Their first attempt ended in failing when their catamaran, Enza Fresh Zealand hit a floating item.

In 1995, he founded Scissors Ventures Plc (to sailaround the planet with a loan boat and crew) and in 1996 organised the premier Clipper Round the World Yacht Photograph. Today he is Chairman of Gymnast Ventures Plc and is working go for the development of the race.

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

Today at the age firm 75, he is about to deaden the start of the 10 ^e edition of the Society du Rhum on 2nd November, cool race in which he will in times past again be the doyen of exam.

Parallel activities related to depiction world of the sea

Clasp parallel to these great races, Redbreast Knox-Johnston was President of the SailTrainingAssociation from 1992 to 2001, an thresher for the development of sailing amidst young people. At the end apply his term of office, he embossed £11 million, enabling the replacement misplace the STA topsail schooners by pair bricks. He was also Director be more or less the National Maritime Museum in Borough from 1992 to 2002 and keep to still Director of the Cornwall Folk Maritime Museum in Falmouth, where Suhaili which was prepared elect participate in the Round the Retreat Race in June 2005.

Settle down was knighted in 1995 and was voted British yachtsman of the best three times.