A World of My Own: The First Ever Non-stop Solo Round the World Voyage

by Robin Knox-Johnston

Overview

On Friday 14 June 1968 Suhaili, a tiny ketch, slipped almost unnoticed out of Falmouth harbour steered by the solitary figure at her helm, Robin Knox-Johnston. Ten and a half months later Suhaili, paintwork peeling and rust streaked, her once white sails weathered and brown, her self-steering gone, her tiller arm jury rigged to the rudder head, came romping joyously back to Falmouth to a fantastic reception for Robin, who had become the first man to sail round the world non-stop single-handed.

By every standard it was an incredible adventure, perhaps the last great uncomputerised journey left to man. Every hazard, every temptation to abandon the astounding voyage came Robin's way, from polluted water tanks, smashed cabin top and collapsed boom to lost self-steering gear and sheered off tiller, and all before the tiny ketch had fought her way to Cape Horn, the point of no return, the fearsome test of any seaman's nerve and determination.

A World of My Own is Robin's gripping, uninhibited, moving account of one of the greatest sea adventures of our time. An instant bestseller, it is now reissued for a new generation of readers to be enthralled and inspired.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472974402
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	03/03/2020
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	738,850
Product dimensions:	5.45(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Robin Knox-Johnston entered the Merchant Navy at the age of 17, obtaining his Master's Certificate 8 years later. Of the 9 competitors he was the only one to complete the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race in 1968 after 312 days alone at sea and win the trophy for the first solo non-stop circumnavigation. Since then Robin has participated in many ocean races including the Whitbread, and in 1994 co-skippered Enza with Sir Peter Blake to set a new world record for a circumnavigation. He has been UK Yachtsman of the Year twice, International Yachtsman of the Year in 1995, and was knighted in 1995. He still owns and sails Suhaili.

Table of Contents

Foreword iv

Acknowledgements ix

Suhaili 1

Make Do and Mend 13

Falmouth to the Forties 33

June 14th, 1968-September 10th, 1968 (Day 88)

The Roaring Forties 62

September 11th, 1968-November 8th, 1968 (Day 89-147)

Melbourne to Otago 96

November 10th, 1968-November 20th, 1968 (Day 148-159)

Otago to the Horn 125

November 21st, 1968-January 8th, 1969 (Day 160-209)

Cape Horn 153

January 9th, 1969-January 17th, 1969 (Day 210-218)

Dog Watch 163

Cape Horn to the Equator 174

January 18th, 1969-March 6th, 1969 (Day 219-266)

The Equator to Falmouth 192

March 7th, 1969-April 22nd, 1969 (Day 267-313)

Pilot's Notes 219

Epilogue 230

Appendices

I Stores lists 233

II Navigational stores and equipment 237

III Book list 239

Index 241

Map: Suhaili's route round the world vi - vii

Editorial Reviews

BOOK OF THE WEEK: In an age short of heroes, make no mistake: Robin Knox-Johnston is a hero for all time. His dramatically epic account is a glorious antidote to our navel-gazing age. This is courage in the raw, day by day and as it happens. Wonderfully inspiring.” —Daily Mail

“A gripping tale of human achievement, A World of My Own also provides an honest, personal insight.” —Devon Life

“A very readable story of adventure.” —The Little Ship

From the Publisher