The story of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's amazing travels

The story of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's amazing travels

Following this epic race Knox Johnston and sir Peter Blake set a record Jules verne trophy, showing the fastest result around the world in the team. Then he founded a successful campaign Clipper Round the World Race for amateur yachtsmen, and crossed the oceans using only long-forgotten navigation techniques. And at the age of 68, he sailed around the world at the Open 60 alone. Just by looking into the eyes of Robin Knox-Johnston, you will see the history of his many travels.

You made a name for yourself as the first person to sail a yacht around the world without stopping. But what came before that? How did you get started? Were you from a family of sailors?

There were sailors in my mother's family, but not on my father's side. They were farmers in Northern Ireland. From the age of eight I dreamed of going to sea. And at the age of 17 I decided that it was enough for me to study, and I joined the merchant marine.

I had to do a four-year internship. I loved it, but I was always interested in sailing and luckily we learned yachting as part of the internship. In those days, lifeboats had masts and sails, and if the ship sank, you could sail to the nearest port.

When did you decide that you will have your own boat and go on big trips?

We were based in Bombay, so we could sail with the Bombay Yacht Club, taking their boats for a while. At the end of the contract, I thought it would be interesting to build a boat and take it home. This is what we did. I went home to Suhaili with my brother and friend.

What inspired you to go on long journeys?

I worked as the captain of a ship and my route was up and down the southeast coast. It was then that Sir Francis Chichester set out on a journey around the world, and I also began to think about it. Then I saw him approach the Thames, and I thought: there was only one thing left to do - to go this route without stopping.

In the middle of preparing for the trip, it became known about the race Golden globeorganized by Sunday Times... There were four of us at the time. And that number eventually grew to nine.

I told them that I was interested in just doing it first and not in winning their race. It all ended with the rules being changed so that everyone could start at any time from June 1st to October 31st. I started on June 14th.

How was your participation in Golden Globe?

It was supposed to be a round-the-world non-stop race. But the rules were pretty loose. We haven't tested our abilities or anything else. The organizers have decided that the race will start in October. I told them I couldn't wait that long. "I need to get to Cape Horn in early January." Trust me, you don't want to be near Cape Horn in winter. This is an unpleasant place.

I wanted to go. I was ready to go. Unfortunately, I got sick. It was not long before my start, so during the first month I had to be treated. I was not very fast. After two months, I lost my radio, so I didn't know what was going on until I got to New Zealand.

I was sure I was ahead, but I didn't know how much. I left at least four weeks early Bernard Muatessier and three weeks ahead of him at Cape Horn, so he didn't overtake me that much. And he wasn't going to catch up with me if I continued. But I didn't know that at Cape Horn. Only when there was a week before the finish line, I found out that he was at that time in the Indian Ocean, and that he decided not to finish the race.

Do you have a romantic view of ocean travel? Do you enjoy silence and solitude? Or is it a challenge, a thirst for trials?

I don't see it from a romantic point of view. I just love being there. Sometimes I like to be on my own, just as I like to sail with a crew. Sometimes it's just me and the boat, and we just go there and then to another place. It is my choice. I make decisions here, I'm not some government official. And I like this freedom.

Did you think then that you could use the experience of participating in Golden Globe, as an impetus for subsequent projects, or was it just done and that's it?

Yes, just to do. I was going to return to the merchant marine. This is what I liked to do, this is what I was taught. I was good at this. Unfortunately, I couldn't get back there, so I started building yacht marinas and running a shipyard. It was fun. I took part in races from time to time. I've always considered it my hobby.

Was this your true passion?

I absolutely love racing. But I love business. I really love the Clipper race, namely the fact that we have pulled 5,000 people out to sea for over 20 years. 40% of them have never been on a boat before and they become good sailors.

The story of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's amazing travels

What are you most proud of?

I think it's a combination of accomplishments Clipper Ventures and Golden globe race... But, what we have achieved with Clipper - It is fantastic.

What inspired this idea?

During the ascent from Chris Bonington, a famous British climber, he told me about how much it costs to climb Everest... I wondered what the sailing equivalent is. How much would I have to charge if I provided boats, skippers, training, clothing, food, ports and everything else. And I came to the conclusion that a little more than half of what it costs to climb the mountain Everest.

So we advertised in newspapers and got 8,000 responses. We started interviewing and boat building. I have built eight identical 60ft boats. In a hurry, we built a route, and eight months later the first race started. It's been a pretty busy year.

The story of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's amazing travels

You do a lot to promote yachting among young people. In what direction would you like to see the development of the yachting industry?

I would like yachting to be part of the school curriculum, in every school, in one form or another. This will help children realize that they are capable of more than they thought. I think it helps shape children and gives them confidence.

You went to America with an astrolabe. Can you explain what an astrolabe is? And what prompted you to try it?

This invention dates back to the ancient Greeks. Basically, it's a circle with a lever called an alidad attached to the middle and you rotate it until it aligns with the sun, and then you can read the angle of the sun. It will determine the latitude for you, providing you with the knowledge of the sun's movement. I was curious how well you can travel with the astrolabe.

Considering that a degree at 60 miles is about a millimeter, you can get a pretty accurate definition. And by stripping myself of everything else, and just using this device, I discovered things that I would never have discovered sitting at a table. I went to Suhayli from the Canary Islands to San Salvador. I was alone. It took me 35 days to walk 100 miles a day. Just like Columbus.

Where did this interest come from?

I have always been interested in different methods of navigation, from the Middle Ages to the Phoenicians, and even to the Viking times. They found Newfoundland with a solar compass, 500 years before Columbus... I did it out of pure curiosity. I wondered what tools they used and how they used them. When I started asking questions, I realized that no one was doing it. I just decided that I was going to find out.

The story of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's amazing travels

You went to the Jules Verne Cup with Sir Peter Blake. How it was?

Peter started with me for the first time in 1971 in a race Cape Rio... Then he was my partner at Whitbread in 1977. We were both on the committee Whitbreadwhen they heard about the fastest circumnavigation - Jules Verne Cup... We decided to unite and participate.

We wanted to break the 80-day record. We thought it was possible. Everyone told us it was impossible. We bought a large catamaran, completely redesigned it, and started. Unfortunately we ran into something in the water and had to be pulled out. Then our sponsors asked if we wanted to do it again, so we started again. Peter was a pleasure to work with. He was a very good organizer and motivator.

What inspires you?

I tend to come up with my own ideas. No, I would not say that they are always mine. It is possible that I heard someone say something. But I am not leaning towards the public when I make these decisions. Usually I am alone with me. I leave and think. If I think I can do it, then I do it. And then, I just keep doing it.

The story of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's amazing travels

What are you most interested in?

History. Especially the history of navigation. I'm all in this. It fascinates me very much.

Do you believe in old maritime superstitions?

Some yes. I don't like swimming on Friday the 13th. Other Fridays are fine. But, for example, I do not believe in the Bermuda Triangle, this is nonsense.

Do you still have a sense of dread?

Oh yes, less, because I have more experience. But I still have a lot of thoughts in my head: “Have I thought about everything? What have I forgotten? " A little fear before you set out on your trip doesn't hurt.

How do you deal with fear?

It's usually a little late for fear. When a wave approaches you and it is 80 feet high and extends from horizon to horizon, breaking above you, what can you already say? Why did I decide to do this? You won't get away from it. She will overtake you now anyway. And all you can do is hope that your boat will be safe, by itself, it will cover it with a wave, the main thing is that it does not capsize. And it already depends on how you handle your boat.

Is this something you learned or was born with?

I believe that we are born with characteristics, but I do not believe that a person cannot learn anything. I think that when things go wrong, if the leadership is strong, clear and solid, the crew immediately feels that someone is in charge. You need people who have experience and they can provide that leadership. It is not necessarily congenital. This is what comes with experience.

22.09.2017