Sailing Solo: The Legendary Sailors and the Great Races » (First North American Edition)

Nic Compton was brought up on boats in the Mediterranean. After gaining an Honors Degree in English at Exeter University, he tried his hand at boatbuilding for a few years. While working in Greece he bought a 32-foot (9.75 m) William Atkins double-ender, sister ship to Knox-Johnston's Suhaili, which he sailed back to the U.K. After a postgraduate course in journalism he became deputy editor, then editor, of Classic Boat from 1994 - 2000. He now works as a freelance writer, contributing to Yachting Monthly, Boat International, and Motorboats and Yachting.

One person. One boat. And mile upon mile of open sea. Ever since Joshua Slocum circumnavigated the globe in 1895 - 98, sailors have dreamed of taking to the high seas alone. In 1966 Sir Francis Chichester astonished the world by sailing solo around the globe in just 226 days. Two years later Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to do it nonstop. It's a dream to which many sailors have devoted their lives; some have lost their lives in the pursuit. With lavish, full-color photography and dramatic prose, Sailing Solo pays homage to the world's greatest sailors and gives you first-hand accounts of every major single-handed race.

In the century since Slocum's pioneering voyage, the boats have changed but the sea has not. Single-handed voyaging is still the ultimate test of resourcefulness, courage, endurance, and imagination. Here is a rich history and celebration of the great voyages, the races, and the men and women who sail them. Sailing Solo includes:

• Dramatic accounts of the most grueling yachting races in the world, including the Ostar, Figaro, Mini-Transat, Route du Rhum, Around Alone, and Vendee Globe, in which sailors surf down 40-foot waves at speeds exceeding 20 knots, thousands of miles from any help.
• Full-length profiles with fact boxes of the greatest sailors, including Robin Knox-Johnston, Eric Tabarly, Mike Birch, Christophe Auguin, and Ellen MacArthur.
• Detailed maps of the routes, with key locations highlighted.
• Insightful analysis of how the demands of the single-handed sailor have led to technological advances in boat design.

Ever since the first Observer Single-Handed Transatlantic Race in 1960, the idea of lone sailors pitting their wits against each other and the elements has captured the public's imagination. Sailing Solo traces the history of each race, introduces the skippers, and explains the impact of design and technology on the boats they race. From the philosophy of Bernard Moitessier to the grit of Eric Tabarly and the professionalism of Ellen MacArthur, discover what makes sailors tackle that ultimate of all challenges: sailing alone.

A Lone Sailor on a Vast Ocean

"I am still completely amazed by the early pioneers of solo sailing. Imagine setting sail on a tiny boat with only the most basic of safety equipment, foul weather gear, and navigational aids. This is what Slocum, Chichester, Rose, and Hasler did. Even when Sir Robin Knox-Johnston set the nonstop round-the-world record on Suhaili, he did so with few of the sophisticated aids and modern comforts we have now. Robin set his record of 313 days in 1968 - 69, seven years before I was born. Now, the monohull record stands at 93 days—a lot has been achieved in 26 years!

"Nic effortlessly recounts many of the greatest solo stories, demonstrating his understanding of the sea and the sailors who are prepared to sacrifice everything to compete on the world's oceans. These tales of great human endeavor leave you feeling in awe of the men and women who have attempted these incredible voyages."—from the Foreword by Ellen MacArthur, fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe alone

Nic Compton was brought up on boats in the Mediterranean. After gaining an Honors Degree in English at Exeter University, he tried his hand at boatbuilding for a few years. While working in Greece he bought a 32-foot (9.75 m) William Atkins double-ender, sister ship to Knox-Johnston's Suhaili, which he sailed back to the U.K. After a postgraduate course in journalism he became deputy editor, then editor, of Classic Boat from 1994 - 2000. He now works as a freelance writer, contributing to Yachting Monthly, Boat International, and Motorboats and Yachting.