Fifty years ago, this boat circled the world non-stop and “backwards” for the first time

British Steel is the boat in which Chay Blyth made history exactly fifty years ago as the first man to circumnavigate the globe non-stop from east to west against the prevailing winds. Special boat. Blyth and British Steel’s feat, which we tell you about below, will be celebrated with a grand parade on August 6 in Southampton.

TO ACCOMPLISH A SPECIAL FEAT, IT TAKES A SPECIAL BOAT (1971)
On the 18-meter (59-foot) ketch British Steel, Scotsman Chay Blyth was the first person in the world, in 1971, to circumnavigate the globe solo non-stop eastward against prevailing winds. The venture was a success, the sailor succeeding after 292 days: “boat of steel, man of iron,” headlined the press of the time (stele in English means, indeed, steel).

For the time, the boat designed by Robert Clark, a naval architect from Devon, was cutting-edge, designed for solo sailing and with futuristic electronics. She was built by the George Phillip & Son shipyard, located on the Dart River: she was built in the record time of four months, and was described by Don Holme in his book “The Circumnavigators” as a state-of-the-art boat, especially in terms of the use of steel in the hull.

It was mainly because of this innovative feature that Chay Blyth, known to be an adventurer/entrepreneur who was always very budget-conscious, was able to convince the British Steel Corporation (state-owned) to sponsor his project and the boat.

Expressly built to achieve a goal that was considered nearly impossible at the time, its design and construction cost 20,000 pounds at the time. Think that even the boat’s builders did not believe in the success of the project: they had initially planned to install a box below deck in which to put some of their children’s toys, hoping to return them to them accompanied by a note certifying that they had been “around the world.” But then they decided not to, because they were afraid they might be lost!

Instead. Instead Blyth succeeded in his feat, to him all the glories. The boat had been donated to him, but was later sold and changed hands among several owners, including adventurer Pete Goss. It is currently docked at Dartmouth. Blyth, born in 1940, is now 81 years old and Sir. Sir Chay Blyth. He will be present at the parade to commemorate his feat on Aug. 6, aboard the 27-foot lance Lucky Me commanded by Christopher Waddington (who was one of the first to come aboard British Steel to help take down the sails after the boat crossed the finish line at Hamble Spit Buoy ,in ’71).

PHOTOS FROM BACK THEN

HELP US KEEP YOU UP TO DATE

The journalists of the Sailing Newspaper, strive every day to ensure quality, up-to-date and correct information about the boating world free of charge through their websites. If you appreciate our work, support us by subscribing to the magazine. The annual subscription costs only 49 euros and we also give you a gift!

DISCOVER THE SAILING NEWSPAPER YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Daily interviews, boat trials, webinars. The whole sail, minute by minute. But on video! CLICK HERE To sign up, it’s free!

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

To stay up-to-date on all the news from the world of sailing, selected by our editorial staff, sign up for the Sailing Newspaper newsletter! It’s super easy, just enter your email below, agree to the Privacy Policy and click the “Sign Me Up” button. You will then receive on your email, twice a week, the best sailing news! It’s a free service and you can unsubscribe at any time, with no obligation!