On Friday 14 June 1968 Suhaili, a tiny ketch, slipped almost unnoticed out of Falmouth harbour steered by the solitary figure at her helm, Robin Knox-Johnston. Ten and a half months later Suhaili, paintwork peeling and rust streaked, her once white sails weathered and brown, her self-steering gone, her tiller arm jury rigged to the rudder head, came romping joyously back to Falmouth to a fantastic reception for Robin, who had become the first man to sail round the world non-stop single-handed.

“Of course, for a seaman, next to being actually at sea, the greatest enjoyment comes from preparing the boat for a voyage.”

Robin Knox-Johnston “A World of My Own: The first ever non-stop solo round the world voyage”. First published in 1969. This edition was published by Adlard Coles in 2020. Donated to the library by Malcolm Carey from Cornwall, UK ❤️

Photos by Anna Iltnere / Sea Library