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Sir Francis Chichester
by BARRY PICKTHALL
In
August 1966 Francis Chichester set out from Plymouth UK on his pioneering
attempt to beat the clipper ship times around the world with his famous Gipsy
Moth IV and it is 67 years since this famous navigator and sailor first made his
mark on the world with a solo flight from England to Sydney before becoming the
first to fly East to West across the Tasman Sea alone.
Chichester, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II right in Greenwich on the Meridian Line almost immediately after his circumnavigation, died in 1972 after achieving a succession of speed and endurance records that not only made sailing front page news for the first time, but set off a proliferation of races both across the Atlantic and around the world.
Born in Devon in 1901 and educated at Marlborough College, Chichester was one of life’s big achievers. At 18, he left England for New Zealand where he spent ten hard-working years building up a prosperous business in forestry and air transport - a venture that was to help underwrite his later adventures. Returning for a home visit his family in 1929, he became hooked on the idea of beating Bert Hinkler’s record solo flight back to Australia.
Other special features about Gipsy Moth IV and Sir Francis Chichester:
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Gipsy Moth IV in dry-dock at Greenwich today
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Gipsy Moth IV achievements
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30th Anniversary of the record-breaking round-the-world voyage
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Sir Francis Chichester achievements
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Cutty Sark - Tea Clipper in dry-dock at Greenwich
