SIR ROBIN KNOX JOHNSTON

Representing 1960's

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first man to circumnavigate the globe non-stop and single-handed when he arrived back in Falmouth, England, on 22 April 1969, 312 days after setting off from the Cornish port in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. He was the only one of the nine competitors to complete the gruelling solo circumnavigation, the longest voyage ever undertaken. In 1969 he was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) and knighted in 1995. He has been named Yachtsman of the Year an unprecedented three times. In 1995 he founded Clipper Ventures, the marine events company that operates the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the sixth edition of which finished in Liverpool on 5 July 2008, and the VELUX 5 OCEANS single handed race in which Sir Robin finished fourth in 2007, completing his second solo circumnavigation of the globe.

Sir Robin established the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race to give ordinary people the chance to experience the extraordinary – to compete in ocean yacht racing which, until then, had been the preserve of the rich or professional sailor. To date more than 1,700 people from all walks of life – doctors, lawyers, CEOs, stockbrokers, nurses, postmen – and from countries around the world have taken part in the Clipper Race.