Sir Robin Knox Johnston - sole finisher in the 1968 -1969 race.
Kirsten Neuschafer - this year's winner
Not just single-handed - one person, on a boat, no outside assistance and NO modern navigation equipment save an emergency position indicating radio beacon, and a satphone!
Sailing like it's 1968. No routing software. Compass. and one piece of emergency equipment. Wikipedia captures the story of the first race - the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race of 1968:
Nine sailors started the race; four retired before leaving the Atlantic Ocean. Of the five remaining, Chay Blyth, who had set off with absolutely no sailing experience, sailed past the Cape of Good Hope before retiring; Nigel Tetley sank with 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km) to go while leading; Donald Crowhurst, who, in desperation, attempted to fake a round-the-world voyage to avoid financial ruin, began to show signs of mental illness, and then committed suicide; and Bernard Moitessier, who rejected the philosophy behind a commercialised competition, abandoned the race while in a strong position to win and kept sailing non-stop until he reached Tahiti after circling the globe one and a half times. Robin Knox-Johnston was the only entrant to complete the race, becoming the first man to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. He was awarded both prizes, and later donated the £5,000 to a fund supporting Crowhurst's family.
The BOC Challenge, Around Alone and the French Obsession the Vendee Globe followed the tragic Golden Globe - after the sole finisher the now legend and still sailing Sir Robin Knox Johnston.
Sir Robin was the first single-handed round the world race winner. And we now have Kirsten Neuschafer - the first woman to win a single-handed RTW race.
- GWC
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