Shane Acton

Shane Acton (* 1947 † 25 February 2002 in Cambridge ) was a British circumnavigator. He put in the 1970s with his boat Shrimpy the world record for the circumnavigation of the world in the smallest sailboat on which he held until the mid- 1980s.

Life

Acton grew up in the English Coleridge.

Circumnavigation of the world

Acton had no sailing experience. Although he had served in the Royal Navy, but learned there only drive on small motor boats. In the early 1970s he bought for 400 pounds sterling a 18 feet 4 inches ( about 5.60 meters) long Kimmkieler of plywood. The boat of the type Caprice had been designed by Robert Tucker.

Acton christened the yacht on the name Super Shrimp, but they just called Shrimpy. In 1972 he started as a 22 -year-old from England to a circumnavigation, which he eight years later, after long stopovers in the Caribbean, Polynesia and Australia, finished.

Acton's boat at the time was the smallest sailboat ever to sail around the world. Serge Testa sailed around 1984-86 in a nearly 12 feet ( 3.60 meters ) long boat the world and took the record from Acton.

On a stage part of the Pacific Ocean accompanied him, the Swiss Iris Derungs that was his comrade and board wife and mitreiste the later the last section of the drive from the Mediterranean through the canals of France. Iris Derungs now lives in Switzerland and works as a photographer.

His friends had Acton as a modest anti- materialist known. His journey marks him out as a frugal man who made ​​every effort to and remained true to his small Knickspantsegelboot, although he more than once had on his many years of travel, the opportunity to exchange it for a larger yacht.

Shane Acton has a large following among owners of small Kajütsegelboote nowadays.

Life after the circumnavigation and death

After the circumnavigation he lived in Costa Rica, where he drove out with tourists for deep sea fishing sea. In addition, he worked as a laborer in a shipyard.

Shane Acton died at the age of 55 from lung cancer in Cambridge. He was a heavy smoker, the concern that there is sufficient tobacco accompanied his journey around the world, as he writes in his book. His family asked for donations at the funeral benefit Cancer Research UK instead of flowers.