
The First and the Fastest
Comparing Robin Knox-Johnston and Ellen MacArthur's Historic Round-the-World Voyages
Nigel Sharp(Author)
The History Press Ltd
Published on 11. June 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
978-0-7509-8694-6 (ISBN)
Description
This is the story of two single-handed non-stop round-the-world voyages: Robin Knox-Johnston's in 1968/69 and Ellen MacArthur's in 2004/05. Although there were similarities - both voyages started and finished in Falmouth, for instance, and neither sailor was in a conventional race - the story is mainly one of contrasts, mostly as a consequence of thirty-six years of technological developments. These gave MacArthur the opportunity for a considerably faster voyage, but that didn't necessarily make things any easier for her. When Knox-Johnston set sail in Suhaili, no one knew if it was possible for a human being or a boat to survive such a voyage; and when MacArthur commissioned her boat B&Q, many considered that a high-performance trimaran of that size could not be safely sailed around the world by one person. Whatever comparisons are made, the question as to which was the greater achievement is futile: both voyages were utterly remarkable. MacArthur is no longer 'the fastest', of course - her time has since been beaten by three Frenchmen - but she is still the fastest British solo circumnavigator, while Knox-Johnston's record as 'the first' will be there for all time.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Stroud
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
8 Plates, black and white; 20 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
504 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7509-8694-6 (9780750986946)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Nigel Sharp
The First and the Fastest
Comparing Robin Knox-Johnston and Ellen MacArthur's Historic Round-the-World Voyages
E-Book
06/2018
The History Press Ltd
€18.49
Available for download
Person
NIGEL SHARP spent 35 years in the boat building and repair industry, mostly in various project management-type positions. He had a change of course in 2010 when he became a freelance marine writer. Since then he has had many articles published as well as three books. He lives in Falmouth.