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Francis Chichester, the Man who was ‘Too Old’ to Sail solo Around the World

Francis Chichester was a remarkable figure in the world of exploration and sailing. Born on September 17, 1901, in Barnstaple, England, Chichester would go on to become a renowned aviator, sailor, and adventurer. Throughout his life, he pushed the boundaries of human achievement and inspired generations with his daring exploits. From his solo flight around the world to his iconic solo circumnavigation of the globe, Chichester’s life was a testament to courage, determination, and the relentless pursuit of dreams.

On 27 August 1966 Francis Chichester sailed his yawl Gipsy Moth IV from Plymouth in the United Kingdom and returned there after 226 days of sailing on 28 May 1967, having circumnavigated the globe, with one-stop (in Sydney).

By doing so, he became the first person to achieve a true circumnavigation of the world solo from West to East via the great Capes.

The voyage was also a race against the clock, as Francis Chichester wanted to better the typical times achieved by the fastest fully-crewed clipper ships during the heyday of commercial sail in the 19th century (the first recorded solo circumnavigation of the globe was achieved by Joshua Slocum in 1898 but it took him three years with numerous stops – Slocum also took up the harder challenge of sailing east to west, against the prevailing wind).

Early Life and Career

Francis Charles Chichester was born into a middle-class family with a strong naval tradition. As a young boy, he showed an early passion for sailing and the sea. At the age of 18, he left school to work as an apprentice in New Zealand, where he honed his sailing skills and developed a deep connection with the ocean.

In the 1920s, Chichester returned to England and established himself as a successful businessman, specializing in aviation. He founded an aviation company and became an accomplished pilot, setting numerous aviation records during his career. His expertise in navigation and his love for adventure laid the foundation for his later maritime achievements.

The Solo Flight

In 1931, Chichester embarked on his most audacious adventure yet—a solo flight from England to Australia. The journey took him over 40 days, covering approximately 21,000 miles. This remarkable feat captured the world’s attention, and Chichester became a national hero.

Following his successful flight, Chichester continued to explore the possibilities of aviation, setting records and breaking barriers. He flew solo across the Tasman Sea, from New Zealand to Australia, and later achieved the fastest flight from New York to London.

The great adventure of Francis Chichester

In 1958, Chichester was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. (This might have been a misdiagnosis; David Lewis, a London doctor, who competed against Chichester in the first solo trans-Atlantic race, reviewed his case, and called Chichester’s abnormality a “lung abscess”.) His wife Sheila put him on a strict vegetarian diet (now considered to be a macrobiotic diet) and his cancer went into remission. Chichester then turned to long-distance yachting.

Francis Chichester

In 1960, he entered and won the first Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race, which had been founded by ‘Blondie’ Hasler, in the 40-foot ocean racing yawl Gipsy Moth III. He came second in the second race four years later.

On 27 August 1966 Chichester sailed his ketch Gipsy Moth IV from Plymouth in the United Kingdom and returned there after 226 days of sailing on 28 May 1967, having circumnavigated the globe, with one-stop (in Sydney). By doing so, he became the first person to achieve a true circumnavigation of the world solo from West to East via the great Capes.

In July 1967, a few weeks after his solo circumnavigation, Chichester was knighted, being appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for “individual achievement and sustained endeavor in the navigation and seamanship of small craft”. For the ceremony, the Queen used the sword used by her predecessor Queen Elizabeth I to knight the adventurer Sir Francis Drake, the first Englishman with his crew to complete a circumnavigationGipsy Moth IV was preserved alongside the Cutty Sark at Greenwich.

In 1968, when Donald Crowhurst was trying to win the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, a single-handed round-the-world event, it was Chichester who dismissed Crowhurst’s wildly exaggerated reports of his own progress, which had fooled many enthusiastic supporters.

In 1970, Chichester attempted to sail 4,000 miles in twenty days, in Gipsy Moth V, but failed by one day.

Francis Chichester died of cancer in Plymouth, Devon, on 26 August 1972, and was buried in the church of his ancestors, St Peter’s Church in Shirwell, near Barnstaple.

Francis Chichester Legacy

Francis Chichester’s achievements in aviation and sailing marked him as a true pioneer. His daring spirit and unwavering pursuit of adventure inspired countless individuals to push their limits and follow their dreams. He became a role model for future adventurers, embodying the ideals of courage, perseverance, and exploration.

Chichester’s legacy extended beyond his own accomplishments. He helped popularize single-handed sailing, leading to the creation of prestigious yacht races like the Vendée Globe and the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. His autobiographical book, “Gipsy Moth Circles the World,” became a bestseller and further cemented his place in history.

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