RKJ qualifies

Round the world legend completes 2,000 mile passage

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston arrived back in Gosport, Portsmouth today in brilliant sunshine, having completed his first solo transatlantic passage in over 15 years. Sailing aboard his new Open 60 Grey Power, Sir Robin sailed over 2,000 nautical miles alone from Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) to Falmouth (UK), crossing the North Atlantic Ocean in just 14 days.

Having completed this compulsory qualifying passage, Sir Robin is now eligible for the Velux 5 Oceans, starting from Bilbao this October. Having taken delivery of his Finot-designed Open 60 (the former Fila) only two months ago, Sir Robin and his team now begin last-minute preparations in the build up to the race start, which will include giving Grey Power a complete refit following sail and boat testing during this passage.

Speaking from the dockside as he stepped ashore, Sir Robin commented, “I am delighted to have completed my qualifying trip for the Velux 5 Oceans, it’s good to get it out the way, get home and focus on getting the boat in shape for the race. I settled back into sailing alone very easily, helped by the fact that Grey Power is a fabulous boat, very rewarding and lovely to sail. I didn’t want to push the boat too hard and break anything as some of the equipment is quite tired now, but even without overdoing it I spent much of the time averaging 10 knots!

“It was quite a straightforward crossing in all, the toughest parts were at the start and at the end, with two days of fog off the coast of Canada which slowed me up and then the busy waters and stiffer breezes as I approached the UK. I’ve only had 40 minutes sleep in the last two and a half days, but I feel I have adapted really well and handled the sleep deprivation just like in the old days.”

Sir Robin was met by British sailor Alex Thomson, skipper of the Open 60 Hugo Boss. Alex Thomson and Sir Robin are firm friends who first met when Alex became the youngest skipper ever to win the Clipper Round the World race. Both skippers will be battling it out in the upcoming Velux 5 Oceans.

For the silver jubilee year of the Velux 5 Oceans, Sir Robin is hoping to complete the 30,000 mile course in around 112 days taking 200 days off his 1969 record.