Publisher: Profile Books Ltd., 2001 1 86197 236 9 £ 16.99
This story is likely to grip anyone who sails, about the first yachtsmen to attempt to race around the world. Sponsored by the Sunday Times in 1968, this is a recent history event about people who are still in the midst of the sailing community, such as Chay Blyth and Robin Knox-Johnston. It may seen to be only a few short years ago, but it was a very different world, without commercial sponsorship and modern navigation aids.
Nine men attempted the race, with little more to help them than the basic navigation tools that had sufficed for the previous one hundred years, and amazingly mostly in yachts not built especially for the race. Unbelievable though it sounds Chay Blyth and John Ridgeway both independently set out in a twin bilge keel 30’ Westerly design. One of the few purpose built boats brought about the greatest tragedy, Donald Crowhurst in his Teignmouth Electron trimaran committed suicide in mid Atlantic after trying to create a bizarre deception to enable him to claim to have won the race.
It was truly a race for madmen, taking on unknown challenges in unsuitable boats with little more than courage and determination, but the elements that made up their lives, their boats and the race, are of compelling interest. This book does them great justice, and is a remarkable and enjoyable read. - AJM
Page prepared 5 December 2001