Chay Blyth became the first person to sail non-stop around the world in the wrong direction: against the prevailing winds and currents. Sir Francis Chichester commented before the attempt that he thought the voyage was impossible and on completion it became known as “the impossible voyage”.

“How does an ordinary chap with no family fortune behind him set about sailing around the world singlehanded?”

Chay Blyth “The Impossible Voyage”. Published in 1971 by Hodder and Stoughton. This signed first edition was donated to the library by Malcolm Carey from Cornwall, UK ❤️

Photos by Anna Iltnere / Sea Library