|
|
|||||
 |
|||||
|
Gipsy
Moth IV made maritime history in 1966-67 when Sir Francis Chichester,
her intrepid skipper and adventurer, completed the fastest solo circumnavigation
in a small vessel, sailing from Plymouth to Sydney and back via Cape Horn
in just 274 days (226 days actual sailing time). Gipsy Moth was retired
from active service, and spent nearly 40 years in dry dock at Greenwich
where exposure to the elements and the wear and tear of thousands of visitors
each year took their toll.
To celebrate the 40th Anniversary Gipsy Moth IV has been restored to her
former glory, and has completed a second circumnavigation, this time
taking deserving young people on legs of the voyage. This time she took the more leisurely trade winds route, stopping at 25 countries
and taking 22 months to complete the voyage covering over 30,000 miles
in the process.On each of the 28 voyage legs, there were three young adults on-board accompanied by a Skipper and a 1st Mate and at each stopover location the project worked with local communities to provide young adults with the opportunity to sail the yacht and to learn more about the project. At the same time the young adults from the UK had the opportunity to learn more about each country’s culture and be actively involved in local community and environmental projects. Gipsy Moth IV is now based with the UKSA in Cowes where she is being put to use encouraging youngsters of differing backgrounds and abilities to take part in sailing and continue the work which she has always done so well, namely inspiring the passions and aspirations of keen young sailors. |
|||||
 |
|||||