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Sir Robin congratulates Golden Globe winner Jean-Luc Van Den Heede

by Clipper Round the World 30 Jan 2019 01:32 EST 29 January 2019
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston congratulates Golden Globe Race winner Jean-Luc Van Den Heede © Clipper Race

Just months out from the 50th anniversary of his historic voyage, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has travelled to Les Sables d'Olonne to congratulate the winner of the Golden Globe Race 2018.

Sir Robin was one of the first to great his good friend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, after the French Skipper crossed the finish line after spending almost six months at sea.

At 73, Jean-Luc is now the oldest person in history to complete a single handed circumnavigation, overtaking the previous record set by Sir Robin at age 68 in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race. Sir Robin says: "I hand the baton over to Jean-Luc but I couldn't hand it over to a better person. I'm so pleased for Jean-Luc, it's great news."

One of nine sailors to compete in The Times Golden Globe Race, Sir Robin set off from Falmouth, with no sponsorship, on 14 June 1968, with many people writing him off before he even started. With his yacht, Suhaili, packed to the gunwales with supplies he set off on a voyage that was to last just over ten months. The only person to finish the challenge, he arrived back in Falmouth after 312 days at sea, on 22 April 1969, securing his place in the history books.

On April 22 of this year, Sir Robin and Suhaili will once again team up and return to Falmouth to celebrate the 50th anniversary of finishing the inaugural Golden Globe Race.

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