Sir Robin Knox-Johnston guest of honour at Yacht Club de Monaco
by Yacht Club de Monaco 8 May 15:39 BST
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston guest of honour at Yacht Club de Monaco © Martin Messmer
One of the world's greatest sailors, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, was guest speaker at the Yacht Club de Monaco which regularly organises talks on maritime themes.
YCM members including many owners and sailors like Sir Lord Laidlaw, Harold Cudmore, Saskia Clark and Marc Pajot were won over by the stature and humility of this sailing legend. The British sailor will again chair the jury for Monaco Classic Week-La Belle Classe (10-13 September 2025) where his famous sailing yacht Suhaili is expected to be present.
A life spent serving the sea
From the start as a cadet in the 1950s on Chindwara, he has maintained his course. On 14 June 1968, he set off from Falmouth aboard his 32-ft Bermudian ketch Suhaili on the first Golden Globe, a non-stop solo round the world race. Armed only with a sextant, a compass and an iron will he took on the oceans. As one of the smallest boats in the race, Suhaili proved an exemplary companion. After 312 days at sea, Robin Knox-Johnston returned to Falmouth on 22 April 1969 as the first man to achieve this feat. "Solitude is a pitiless mirror," he confided. "You discover your flaws - for me I realised I could be a bit lazy. But you don't have that luxury. The boat doesn't give you that choice, it forces you always to act".
During a presentation illustrated by archive photographs, Sir Robin took his audience with him on an extraordinary adventure, from extreme isolation, damages, collecting rainwater in the Roaring Forties to an emotional return to shore immortalised by images of his first wobbly steps on terra firma. He recalled memories of his first big storm: "I learned how to make my boat comfortable to ride it out. It was vital. Otherwise there would have been breakages". Recalling rounding Cape Horn he said simply that it is "a big moment for any sailor", and as for those four and half months without radio contact "everyone thought I was dead".
Loyal to Monaco Classic Week-La Belle Classe
Sir Robin also talked about his attachment to Monaco Classic Week when again he will chair the jury of the upcoming 17th edition (10-13 September 2025). This biennial event pays tribute to a certain 'Art de Vivre la Mer' lifestyle at sea by gathering vintage and classic sailing yachts, motor-yachts and powerboats in a timeless atmosphere, combining elegance and expertise. "It's a fantastic event and the most important in the classic yachting world. It is a great privilege to be president of the jury".
Offshore commitment
Knighted by the Queen in 1995 and voted Sailor of the Year in the UK four times, Sir Robin never ceases to inspire. In 1996 he founded the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in stages which is open to amateurs and trains them in offshore sailing. "40% of my crew members have never sailed. They're the easiest to train because they don't have any bad habits. And I see them change, by the end they are more sure of themselves, more confident". Thanks to Sir Robin, hundreds of enthusiasts from all walks of life have discovered the thrills and challenges of offshore racing.
At the 2013 Monaco Classic Week he received the Personnalité de la Mer award from HSH Prince Albert II. In 2006, at the age of 67 he entered the VELUX5Oceans Race becoming the oldest sailor to complete a round the world race. In 2014, aged 75, he took part in the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, finishing 3rd in the Rhum category. "The world is full of people who hate it when you succeed because they haven't done anything. If you believe in yourself, then do it".
An inspiration for future generations
With candour, humour and kindness he shared highlights from his long career - Peter Blake, Ellen MacArthur, Sir Ben Ainslie, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede - and his many lives, up to carrying the Olympic flame at the London 2012 Olympics. "The sea teaches you patience. You cannot conquer it. It doesn't even notice you. You have to listen to it to understand it". He concluded by welcoming the return of the Admiral's Cup, 17 July to 1st August 2025. YCM Vice-President Pierre Casiraghi will be sailing alongside Boris Herrmann on the Carkeek 40 Jolt 6, a project also driven by Peter Harrison (owner of Jolt and a YCM member) which also sees a second entrant from Monaco, the TP52 Jolt 3.
Yacht Club de Monaco: tradition and the future
For YCM this evening was yet further confirmation of its goal to position Monaco as a hub of maritime excellence between tradition and the future. Sir Robin's talk is in line with its mission to pass on a passion for the sea to new generations.