Robin Knox-Johnston
Sir Robin Knox - Johnston William, CBE ( born March 17, 1939 in Putney, London) was the first man to sail around the world single-handed sailing nonstop.
Life
As a participant in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race Robin Knox - Johnston launched on 14 June 1968, the 9.7 m long wooden ship called Suhaili to sail around the world non- stop. After the clear lead lying Bernard Moitessier, instead of returning to Europe, sailed to Tahiti ( a total of about one and a half circumnavigation non-stop), Knox - Johnston was on the first place. After 30,123 miles and 312 days alone at sea he ran on April 22, 1969, his ship in the harbor of Falmouth ( Cornwall) again. In the race the competitor Donald Crowhurst, whose family he provided the prize money died. The then 29 - year-old was to have sailed around alone for the performance, the first man without stopping the world, beaten by the Queen knighted.
1994 Knox - Johnston won along with Peter Blake, the Jules Verne Trophy for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by sailboat - in the then record time of 74 days, 22 hours, 17 minutes and 22 seconds.
On July 21, 2012, he carried the Olympic flame through Greenwich.