First Solo Round-the-World Sail
Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world
April 22, 1969
Alone Around the Globe
On April 22, 1969, Robin Knox-Johnston sailed into Falmouth, England, completing a non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe — the first time any person had done so. He had set off from the same port 312 days earlier, on June 14, 1968, aboard his 32-foot wooden ketch, Suhaili. Knox-Johnston was one of nine competitors who had entered the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, a competition to be the first to sail solo and nonstop around the world. The race had no formal starting date — competitors could set off whenever they chose — and followed the traditional clipper ship route through the Southern Ocean. When Knox-Johnston returned, he was the only competitor who had completed the course.
A Race Marked by Tragedy
The Golden Globe Race became one of the most dramatic stories in sporting history. Several competitors retired due to equipment failures. One, Donald Crowhurst, attempted a elaborate fraud — pretending to sail around the world while actually circling in the South Atlantic — and was eventually found to have lost his mind and apparently taken his own life. Another, Bernard Moitessier, was in a strong position to win when he chose to keep sailing rather than return to England, eventually sailing one and a half times around the world before stopping in Tahiti. He later said he was sailing to save his soul. Knox-Johnston, sailing the slowest boat, simply kept going through every storm and setback.
A New Era of Solo Sailing
Knox-Johnston's completion of the circumnavigation was a remarkable feat of seamanship and mental toughness. He spent over 10 months at sea without stopping at any port, navigating some of the most dangerous waters on Earth with minimal electronics or safety equipment by modern standards. He donated his prize money to the family of Donald Crowhurst. Since Knox-Johnston's voyage, solo sailing has grown into a recognized competitive sport, with races like the Vendée Globe attracting world-class competitors who now complete the circumnavigation in just over 70 days using modern high-tech racing yachts. Use the countdown tool to time any upcoming sailing anniversary.