Sir Robin Knox-Johnston , winner of the first ever round-the-world non-stop regatta, admitted that his appendicitis had worsened while he was sailing the legendary voyage. The yachtsman was ready to abort the race, but felt he was too far from the nearest land and continued on to his goal.
50 years ago, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston set sail from the harbour in the British town of Falmouth as part of the non-stop Sunday Times Golden Globe Yacht Race solo circumnavigation. He circumnavigated the globe in 312 days on his 32-foot boat Suhaili and became the first person in history to make such a journey.
Along the way, Knox-Johnston ate canned food and collected rainwater. But after realizing he was likely suffering from worsened appendicitis, the man practically stopped eating.
«I had no medication with which to contain the disease, so I switched to a semi-liquid diet. Very bland foods such as porridge and the like. I ate no meat. For three days I lay curled up in my quarters in severe pain. After that, the disease started to recede»," Knox-Johnston said.
Doctors confirmed the diagnosis a year after the incident, when they removed his appendix.
«I probably should have died. I don't know why it didn't happen»," the yachtsman added.
He says he would have been ready to disembark and begin treatment if he had been close to land - even if it meant ruining his chances of winning the regatta.
This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the circumnavigation, a celebratory regatta is planned on the same conditions on which Knox-Johnston finished in 1969: boats between 32 and 36 feet long, built before 1988 and not equipped with any modern electronics.
In organising the Golden Globe Race 2018, there were constantly some difficulties. First the UK was unable to secure funding for the race, then the French Sailing Federation banned the event from France, resulting in the start location being moved twice.
Ahead of this event, the GGR SITraN Challenge charity regatta, featuring Sir Robin himself and his legendary yacht Suhaili, took place on the route from Falmouth to Les Sables d'Olonne .
