Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

A Race Too Far - new story of the 1968 solo race

by www.sail-world.com on 17 Jan 2010
A Race Too Far SW
In 1968, when Britain's Sunday Times put out a challenge to the world's would-be adventurers to 'sail round the world, alone and without stopping' it was an almost unimaginable feat, and spawned a collection of amazing stories which, until now, had been captured best in the famed book 'A Voyage for Madmen' - now there's a new book...

Just over 40 years later, author Chris Eakin has recreated the epic Golden Globe race, and talked in depth to the participants who are still surviving, and to the families of those that haven't.

A couple of the stories have gone into sailing legend, like that of Bernard Moitissier, who was winning the race but found he couldn't face the character-corrupting publicity that he knew would follow, and, instead of turning left up the Atlantic, sailed on to the South Pacific where he ended his life.

Then there was the tragic Donald Crowhurst who, having announced his participation, was self-pressured into competing, yet never left the Atlantic and falsified his positions until, finally losing sanity, was lost off the boat, found floating later with both a real, and a false log on board.

Finally the story of Robin Knox-Johnston, the winner and only one to finish, has proved the superiority of his level-headedness and top seamanship with his recent completion, 38 years later, of another solo non-top circumnavigation, coming fourth in the VELUX 5 Oceans Race, among a bunch of much younger sailors.

Now, with a crop of teenagers taking the headlines in their quests to become the youngest circumnavigators, the book will evoke the wonder of the adventure itself, what challenges it provoked then, without communications, GPS, AIS, EPIRBs or international rescue systems.

To obtain the book, check with your local Boat Book store, or, to purchase from Amazon, click http://www.amazon.co.uk/Race-Too-Far-Chris-Eakin/dp/0091932599!here
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOMMcDYachts_Pyewacket-for-Sale_1456x180 BOTTOMC-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

Sailing for Scholars Gala and Regatta Fundraiser
Hudson River Community Sailing to Host 16th Annual Event between October 14-19 Hudson River Community Sailing (HRCS), a leading nonprofit youth development and community sailing organization, will host its 16th annual Sailing for Scholars Gala and Regatta in New York City from October 14-19.
Posted today at 2:49 pm
Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta Preview
Returning to Larchmont with record participation from 49 schools This weekend, October 11-12, the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR) returns to Larchmont Yacht Club, co-hosted by the Storm Trysail Club.
Posted today at 2:13 pm
Strong NZ team named for Youth Worlds
13 sailors have been announced as the NZL Sailing Foundation Youth team 2025 Worlds 13 sailors have been announced as the NZL Sailing Foundation Youth team for the 2025 World Sailing Youth World championships, in Vilamoura, Portugal, this December
Posted today at 7:41 am
SailMedia Livestream
Taking Sydney Harbour 18ft skiff racing to the world The Australian 18 Footers League's 2025-26 season gets under way next Sunday (12 October) when the League will conduct Race 1 of the 2025 SIXT Spring Championship, for the Major Arthur Frizelle Trophy, on Sydney Harbour.
Posted today at 6:55 am
49er & 49erFX and Nacra 17 Worlds Day 2
Sick Performance by Norway in the FX Norway has taken the top spot in the women's skiff at the end of day two of the 49er FX World Championships. Pia Dahl Andersen and Nora Edland have taken a two-point lead from the Spanish team who were on top at the start of the day.
Posted today at 5:51 am
Armstrong riders connect with SailGP sailors
Some of the world's best female foilers spent a few unforgettable days together in Tarifa and Cadiz From winging in Tarifa to F50 racing in Cádiz, some of the world's best female foilers came together as Armstrong riders and SailGP sailors spent a few unforgettable days learning from each other and witnessing foiling at its highest level.
Posted today at 1:11 am
Introducing Henri-Lloyd's Bergen Range
High performance technical mid-layers, manufactured from Ghost Nets and Recycled Plastic Bottles Henri-Lloyd's new Autumn/Winter 2025 collection features the Bergen Hooded Jacket and Bergen Gilet, the first in their range to be manufactured using performance fabrics alongside fibres and insulation derived from ghost nets and recycled plastic bottles.
Posted on 8 Oct
Freestyle Pro Tour Geneva day 1
Caers back to going crazy Day one of the Freestyle Pro Tour Geneva opened under calm skies and even calmer winds — the perfect setup for a chilled out morning morning of registration, equipment stickers, photos, and the usual pre-event logistics.
Posted on 8 Oct
2.4mr World Championship Opening Ceremony
56 sailors from 17 countries for the most inclusive championship of the year The 2.4mR Inclusive World Championship has officially begun in Malcesine, marking the start of the first-ever Inclusive Sailing World Championship. Until October 12, Paralympic & able-bodied athletes will compete side by side on the waters of Lake Garda.
Posted on 8 Oct
Globe40 Stage 2 day 10
33-minute gap at the equator for the two leaders A gap of only 33 minutes at the Equator between BELGIUM OCEAN RACING-CURIUM in the lead and CREDIT MUTUEL this Wednesday, October 8, late morning, with 16 leadership changes between four Class40s since the start in Mindelo...
Posted on 8 Oct