“Talking Sailing” From My Archives. The Legend of An Ocean Gypsy

French solo round the world yachtsman Bernard Moitessier sailing his ketch rigged yacht ‘Joshua’ in the Sunday Times Golden Globe solo round the world race. Moitessier was expected to overtake the early leader, Robin Knox-Johnston’s smaller British ketch ‘Suhaili’ but just when the race win looked assured, the Frenchman continued on around the world, ‘To save my soul’ ending up in Haiti. Moitessier later returned to France and died in 1994 while writing his last book, ‘A Sea Vagabond’s World.’
pic by Ian Dear Archive/PPL

by Richard Crockett

Today’s feature was carefully researched by Graham Spence and written exclusively for SAILING Magazine way back in 1998. His opening words are profound and more true now than they ever were 27 years ago.

“Ever heard of a mad Frenchman called Bernard Moitessier? Most older yachties will have, but among the younger sailing generation, maybe not.

“Which is a pity because Moitessier was one of the more interesting characters of this century (ED. 20th century) and his no compromise attitude in sailing and living life on his terms spawned a generation of sea gypsies who move where the salt breeze blows them.”

Learn more about this remarkable man and his love of sailing in the feature at the link below.

READ THE FULL FEATURE HERE:  Pages from 1998 11 – SAILING Magazine – OCR

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