Recognising a Life Time of Achievement - Sir Robin Knox - Johnston (St.Johns, 1956)

The Pindar Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025, presented by the International Association of Cape Horners, has been awarded to Sir Robin Knox - Johnston.

He has been inspiring sailors the world over since becoming the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world aboard his treasured 32ft 6in traditional wooden yacht Suhaili back in 1968/9. One circumnavigation was never going to be enough. He has completed three, and also competed in the 1977/8 Whitbread Round the World Race, skippering the British maxi yacht Heath’s Condor to elapsed time victories on legs 2 and 4

In 1993-94, he and Peter Blake co-skippered the 92ft catamaran ENZA New Zealand becoming the first to break the Jules Verne 80-day circumnavigation challenge with a record time of 74 days 22 hours 18 mins. Both he and Peter were awarded knighthoods for services to the sport shortly after.

During the 1990s, Robin chaired successive BOC Challenge Around Alone races, then after Clipper Ventures took over the event, re-naming it the Velux 5 Oceans Race, he decided to have another go at the age of 68 aboard a young man’s IMOCA 60 yacht aptly sponsored by Saga Insurance, and finished a very creditable 4th overall. In addition, he has completed some 20 transatlantic crossings and been voted British Yachtsman of the Year four times to become one of the most inspirational figures of his era.

Andrew Pindar, who presented the Award said, “It would hardly be a stretch to think of Sir Robin as the David Attenborough of sailing. Recognized and respected by a public of all ages who have enjoyed his exploits over a long and incredible nautical career.”

To read more about this award, click on this link: Recognizing a lifetime of achievement >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News: Providing sailing news for sailors

2025-2026 CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD RACE

Sir Robins achievements have inspired those close to Berkhamsted, and this year, on Sunday 31st August, OB Gavin Rees (School House 1997) set sail from Portsmouth as Skipper of one of the boats taking part in the Clipper Round the World Race, in his 70ft sailing boat, sponsored by London Business School. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was co-founded Sir Robin in1996 and since then has introduced some 20,000 amateur crews to the sport.

The race, which covers over 40,000 nm and will take 11 months, sees Gavin and his first mate Zoe Longley lead a team of novice sailors who have been trained ready for this epic voyage, as they race against 9 identical boats. Short stopovers will take place in Puerto Sherry, (Spain), Punta Del Este (Uruguay) Cape Town (South Africa), Freemantle (Australia), Airlie Beach (Australia), Subic Bay (Philippines), Qingdao (China), Tongyeong (South Korea), Seattle (USA), The Panama Canal, Washington DC (USA), and Oban (Scotland) for crew changeovers, provisioning and maintenance, before returning to Portsmouth for race end on 25th July 2026.

To see Gav off, he was joined in Portsmouth by 3 boats of OBs, as well as a land based supporters group made up of friends, family, OB Committee and former staff.

For those wishing to track the race, please click on this link: Clipper Round The World Race

or to find out more about the Clipper Race: Clipper Round The World

More recently, Sir Robin and Gavin spoke together about their about their experiences in sailing and reflect on their educational backgrounds and how these influenced their journeys in sailing, highlighting the transformative power of these experiences.

🔗Listen to the podcast here: Old Berkhamstedians: Clipper's Round the World Yacht Race