Robin Knox-Johnston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robin Knox-Johnston
CBE RD*
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Knox-Johnston in 2013
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| Born |
William Robert Patrick Knox-Johnston
17 March 1939 |
| Occupation | Sailor |
| Known for | First single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe |
| Spouse(s) |
Suzanne Singer
(m. 1962; div. 1967)
(m. 1972; died 2003) |
| Children | 1 |
Sir William Robert Patrick Knox-Johnston, also known as Robin Knox-Johnston, is a famous British sailor. He was born on March 17, 1939. In 1969, he made history by becoming the first person to sail around the world alone without stopping.
Later, in 1994, he and Sir Peter Blake won the Jules Verne Trophy. This award is for the fastest trip around the world by boat. They also won the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards. In 2007, when he was 67, he set another record. He became the oldest sailor to complete a solo trip around the world in the Velux 5 Oceans Race.
Contents
About Robin Knox-Johnston
His Early Life
Robin Knox-Johnston was born in Putney, London. He went to the Berkhamsted boys' school. From 1957 to 1968, he worked in the Merchant Navy and the Royal Naval Reserve. These are parts of the British sea services.
In 1965, he started sailing his boat, Suhaili, from Bombay (now Mumbai) to England. Suhaili is a special type of boat called a ketch. It was designed based on strong Norwegian lifeboats. He had to stop his journey in South Africa to work because he ran out of money. He finally finished his trip in 1967.
In 1968, he joined the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. This was a competition to be the first person to sail around the world alone without stopping. Nine sailors tried, but Robin was the only one who finished!
His Family Life
In 1962, Robin married Suzanne Singer, who he had known since he was eight. They had a daughter named Sara. She was born in Bombay while Robin was at sea. They divorced in 1967 but remarried in 1972. They have five grandchildren. Sadly, Suzanne passed away in 2003.
Sailing Around the World
On June 14, 1968, Robin Knox-Johnston started his journey from Falmouth, England. His boat, Suhaili, was 32 feet long. It was one of the smallest boats in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race.
During his trip, he lost his self-steering equipment near Australia. This meant he had to steer the boat himself for much of the journey. He sailed around Cape Horn on January 17, 1969. This was 20 days before the next closest sailor.
The other sailors in the race either dropped out or changed their plans. Robin Knox-Johnston was the only one to complete the race. He returned to Falmouth on April 22, 1969. This made him the first person to sail around the world alone without stopping! For this amazing achievement, he was given the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Robin later encouraged Bill Pinkney, an African-American sailor, to also sail around the world using the challenging southern route. Bill Pinkney became the first Black man to do so.
More Adventures and Later Life
Robin Knox-Johnston continued his sailing adventures. In 1970 and 1974, he won the two-handed Round Britain Race. This race involves two sailors on a boat. He also took part in the 1977 Whitbread Round the World Race.
In 1994, Robin and Peter Blake won the Jules Verne Trophy. They sailed around the world in 74 days, 22 hours, 18 minutes, and 22 seconds. This was a record for the fastest circumnavigation.
From 1992 to 2001, Robin was the president of the Sail Training Association. This group helps young people learn to sail. He helped raise money for new, bigger training ships. He was also a trustee for the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth. His famous boat, Suhaili, is now kept at the Falmouth museum.
In 1995, Robin Knox-Johnston was made a knight for his services to yachting. This means he can use the title "Sir" before his name.
In 1996, he started the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. This race allows everyday people to experience sailing around the world. He has helped many people get into competitive sailing through this company.
On May 4, 2007, Robin completed his second solo trip around the world. He finished fourth in the Velux 5 Oceans Race. At 68 years old, he was the oldest person in the race.
In 2008 and 2009, Robin took part in a BBC show called Top Dogs: Adventures in War, Sea and Ice. He joined other famous British adventurers, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and John Simpson. They went on three trips together, trying out each other's adventure fields. They explored Afghanistan, sailed around Cape Horn, and pulled sledges in Canada.
Robin Knox-Johnston is still involved in sailing. He is the patron of The Cruising Association and the president of Liverpool Yacht Club.
In November 2014, at age 75, Robin finished third in the solo transatlantic race, the Route du Rhum. He sailed his boat, Grey Power, across the finish line after more than 20 days at sea.
In 2022, Suhaili's compass, which had been stolen after his 1969 trip, was returned. It will be displayed at the Holyhead Maritime Museum before going back to Robin.
Books by Robin Knox-Johnston
- A World of My Own. 1969.
- Cape Horn, a maritime adventure. 1995.
- The Columbus venture. 1991.
- Seamanship. 1987.
- Force of Nature with Kate Laven. 2007.
- Running Free. 2019.
- Sea, Ice and Rock With Chris Bonington. 1992.
