The restoration of Gipsy Moth IV will be masterminded by John Walsh, 64, who has been appointed project officer by the UK Sailing Academy.

He has an extensive sailing background and has been an RYA Examiner for Yachtmaster (Offshore) and (Ocean) for 25 years. During his association with the Academy he has commissioned eight new build yachts, piloted their Caribbean Ocean Training Operation and Celestial Navigation Training.

John has also cruised the Channel and Brittany coast in his own boats over the years. His first boat was a plywood-built Mystic 21 which he bought in 1964 – two years before Chichester set off in Gipsy Moth IV . His second boat was a 33ft Prout catamaran, which he kept at his home port Ryde on the Isle of Wight.