Main Page | Newsletter | Sailing calendar | America's Cup | Glossary

World-beater Robin puts trust in self-belief

LONDON, England -- Amid the din of cannon, hooters and horns, history was being made.

It was day 312 and Robin Knox-Johnston onboard Suhaili was approaching Falmouth, south-west England, the first man to sail non-stop around the world.

That day -- April 22, 1969 -- completed a life-change for Sir Robin, who spent 14 years in the Merchant Navy before the historic voyage that made his doubters eat their words.

"I remember somebody coming up to me and saying: 'Are you this young person who thinks they can go and sail around the world?'

"I had said: 'Well yes, I'm going to have a go at it.'

"He said: 'Well it can't be done and even if it could, you couldn't do it.'

"I'm afraid the world is far too full of people who will give you gratuitous advice like that. The best thing you can do with your own life is ignore it completely and trust your own judgement."

Thirty-two years on and Sir Robin, 62, remains committed to sharing his message of self-reliance.

As president of the Sail Training Association, he has helped give thousands of youngsters the opportunity to learn the same skills and sense of independence that he gained. The sea has remained his greatest teacher.

The Southern Ocean is the most awe-inspiring environment that a sailor can experience. As skipper of Heath's Condor in the 1977 Whitbread, Sir Robin faced it at its most fearsome.

"When you see a huge wave, that makes you focus and suddenly the latest demand from the Inland Revenue seems pretty unimportant."

Sir Robin's watch captain on the Whitbread was New Zealand legend Sir Peter Blake.

In 1994 they teamed up onboard the catamaran ENZA to set the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe in just 74 days and 22hours.

"That was the most fantastic sailing I think I've ever had," says Sir Robin.

"When you average nearly 20 knots for 10 days you are getting a sensation that is unbelievable. I still dream about that - I'd do that again tomorrow."

Sailing around the world has always held a fascination for both non-sailors and experienced yachtsmen. Now in its sixth year, Sir Robin's Clipper series has given many the opportunity to fulfil their dream.

"They've got to do the work, I can't stand between them and that cold wave coming down in the nick at 2am. If they don't want that, go on a cruise liner.

"We've had 800 people now who've done that with us. They have all learnt a lot more about themselves, they've come back changed with more self-confidence, more aware of what really matters in life.

"Maybe he or she has been told they are a failure, never going to achieve anything. We can show them in 12 days you can do quite a lot more than you thought.

"The effect is quite dramatic. We're just a catalyst for the ship, to put a bit of pressure on these youngsters to show them how well they can respond to it. The real difference shows at the end of the voyage.

"Are they more confident? The answer has to be a resounding 'yes' every time."