Yachting-Live

Review
“It’s a hell of a story.” (Yachting Monthly, January 2008)

“This beautifully illustrated book is the definitive history of Gipsy Moth IV…” (Devon Today, January 2008)

“If you are a photographer or a yachting enthusiast, this book is a must.” (Amateur Photographer Magazine, Saturday 19th January 2008)

“The book is well illustrated and is a good piece of journalism-as you would expect from the author” (Sailing Today, March 2008)

Product Description
The dramatic story of Gipsy Moth IV from her epic first circumnavigation to her restoration, wreck and triumphant return.

In this beautifully illustrated book, Yachting Monthly’s Paul Gelder tells the remarkable story of Gipsy Moth’s rise, fall and triumphant rise again. It is the definitive history of this sailing icon, illustrated throughout with never before published photographs of the boat, the restoration project and dramatic images from both of her epic voyages.

The author has had unprecedented access to both the Chichester family archives and to the skippers’ and crews’ logs for the second circumnavigation, he even sailed aboard her on the first leg from Plymouth to Gibraltar. Having championed the restoration of this iconic yacht from the start, Paul Gelder has finally written a worthy successor the Chichester’s original bestseller Gipsy Moth Circles The World.

From the Inside Flap
The plan was simple: rescue Gipsy Moth IV from her dry dock in Greenwich after 39 years and sail her round the world again on her 40th birthday and the 100th anniversary of Yachting Monthly.

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She’d be shipwrecked in the South Seas
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There was a fire aboard in the Tuamotus
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A piracy threat in the Red Sea
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A 50-knot storm in the Tasman Sea
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The sailors aboard would include kids recovering from cancer, drug addicts who’d kicked the habit, ex-prisoners, millionaires a Princess, a Dame and a Duke…
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Who was to know it would cost 1 million?

Gipsy Moth travelled 28,264 miles, during her 610-day circumnavigation with 10 skippers, 19 mates, 32 crew leaders and 96 crew. They visited 32 countries with more than 11 languages and needed inoculations from nine potentially fatal diseases.

This was a life-changing journey for scores of youngsters - some from disadvantaged backgrounds. And the m an they all looked up to was a 65-year-old legend reborn on the voyage - Sir Francis Chichester who did it all singlehanded in 1966-67.

The bunks were ‘fiendishly cruel medieval torture machines’. Crew referred to them as ‘caskets.’ The boat was called many things: from “the vomet comet’ to Lady Thatcher - ‘the lady’s not for turning!’ A violent motion produced a rich crop of what one skipper called “gipsy Moth love bites’ as you ricocheted from the one sharp edge to another.

It was the most exciting maritime heritage project of modern times and bought back to life a yacht that is a significant milestone in the history of world sailing. Gipsy Moth is one of the world’s most famous small boats. She warmed the hearts of hard-bitten modern racing sailors, grizzled old seadogs and inspired landlubbers around the world.

About the Author
Paul Gelder, editor of Yachting Monthly magazine, launched the Gipsy Moth project in 2004, to rescue the famous 53ft ketch, rotting away in dry dock at Greenwich, and sail her around the world for a second time, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Chichester’s voyage and the magazine’s 100th birthday. For the success of the campaign he was presented with the Ocean Cursing Club’s Award of Merit (2006) and the magazine won ‘Campaign of the Year from the Printing and Publishing Association in 2006.

He has written two other books about round the world sailing events: The Loneliest Race, about the 1994-95 BOC Around Alone Challenge and InterSpray’s Race Around the World, about the 1992-93 British Steel Challenge, in which he sailed on the first leg, from Southampton to Rio de Janeiro.

Popularity: 9% [?]

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This entry was posted on Sunday, April 13th, 2008 at 10:18 am and is filed under Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.