Having read Sir Robin’s classic, A World of My Own, his account of the first ever journey solo nonstop around the world, I simply couldn’t wait to read another of his books, and this, his second, leaves me with the same opinion.
When Robin first sailed around the world he was in his twenties, in a wooden boat, and it had never been done before. Things were very different then to the satellite guided, shore supported, carbon fibre powered races of today. He was also a few year older, at 69.
The essence of the story is the same as any other documentation of a modern global race in an Open 60. From the token introduction, to the struggle for sponsorship. If you’ve read any of the modern Vendee accounts, then this will be familiar territory, but it’s not quite the same.
Robin’s writing style seems to have, almost surprisingly, not changed since the late 60’s, and that is certainly no bad thing. The man is capable of holding your attention throughout, while avoiding too much emotion. This book is about what, in my opinion, sailing is about; a love of the sea.
There’s no tales of despair, or emotional diatribe, just pure unadulterated passion for what he’s doing. He does encounter problems, serious problems, but like the true seaman he proved himself to be in the Golden Globe, he just get’s on with it then celebrates with a whiskey and a smoke.
In the 40 years since his original venture around the globe, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has lost not one ounce of his mettle, and this book proves it.
