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Chichester Fact File

Sir Francis Chichester

• Born 17th September 1901
• Died 26th August 1972
• 1958 diagnosed with lung disease, told he only had 6 months to live.

Flying History (Records)

• 1929 first solo flight to Australia
• 1931 first person to fly solo across the Tasman Sea
• Nearly died in his attempt to fly solo around the world

Sailing History (Records)

• 1960 winner of the first solo transatlantic race, Gipsy Moth III Plymouth to New York
• 1962 beat his own record, repeating voyage in 33 days

Gipsy Moth IV (Record)

• Fastest around the world by any small vessel
• Longest passage made by a small sailing vessel without a port of call 15500 miles
  (more than twice the distance  of the previous longest passage by a single hander)
• Record for single handed speed by sailing 1400 miles from point to point in 8 days
• First true solo circumnavigation via the three capes making only one stop
• 27th August 1966 – Set off from Plymouth (aged 65)
• 28th May 1967 – Arrived back in Plymouth (aged 66)

On completing the voyage

• 250,000 well wishers greeted GM4 in Plymouth
• Crossed the finish line at 20.58 after nine months and one day of sailing
• Royal artillery sounded a 10 gun salute
• Publicly knighted in Greenwich, 7th July 1967
• Then sailed to tower pier welcomed by London citizens and local dignitaries

Gipsy Moth IV (The Yacht)

• 53ft
• Ketch design
• Proved very difficult to handle on the voyage
• Designed by John Illingworth and Angus Primrose
• Built at Camper and Nicholsons, Gosport
• Launched March 1966
• Constructed of cold moulded Honduras Mahogany
• 854sq of sail

After the voyage

• Published Gipsy Moth circles the world, 13th November 1967
• Made one more solo transatlantic crossing
• Gipsy Moth IV never sailed again