Today marks the 40th anniversary of Sir Chay Blyth sailing into Southampton to complete his solo, non-stop, westabout circumnavigation.

He was welcomed in 1971 on the Friday of Cowes Week by Prince Philip, Princess Anne and then Prime Minister and keen yachtsman Ted Heath, after sailing 27,000 miles on his 59ft ketch British Steel.

Earlier this week Sir Chay recalled: ‘I would have finished back three days earlier than the 292 it took me to complete the voyage, had I not been asked to slow down to time my return with the end of Cowes Week.’

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Photo courtesy of Chay Blyth Archive/PPL