From Falmouth

Sayings from round-the-world sailors. Some that made it... and some that didn't.

• "Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk." Francis Chichester
  
  
• "It is finished, it is finished. It is the mercy. It is the end of my game. The truth has been revealed." Donald Crowhurst
  
  
• "'Record' is a very stupid word at sea. I am continuing nonstop because I am happy at sea, and perhaps because I want to save my soul." Bernard Moitessier.
  
  
• "Courage is not having the energy to go on, it's going on when you do not have the energy." Ellen MacArthur
  
  
• On April 22 1969, after 313 days out of Falmouth, Robin Knox-Johnstron crossed the finish line of the Golden Globe Race, the first ever round-the-world yacht race, and was escorted into port to a noisy welcome at 3:25 P.M. First on board Suhaili, now rust-streaked and peeling, her bottom foul, and her sails tattered, came the customs men.
  
  "Where from?" asked the senior port officer.
  
  "From Falmouth," replied the now-bearded Robin Knox-Johnston with a puckishly straight face.

Congratulations to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on today April 22, the 40th anniversary of the day in 1969 when he crossed that finish line in Falmouth and in doing so became the first person to sail around the world non-stop and single-handed. Among those who tried before, those who raced against him, and those who have succeeded since, his achievement will always be unique. The Everest of yachting.

Today is Robin Knox-Johnston Day on the Web.