In 1975, when Adrian Flanagan was 15, he read Sir Francis Chichester’s account of his record-breaking circumnavigation and a dream began to form. 30 years later, on 28th October 2005, Adrian set sail from England on his quest to voyage vertically around the earth by the most difficult route imaginable, via Cape Horn and the icebound waters of the Russian Arctic.
The challenges would test the limits of his endurance. Only a handful of solo sailors had ever rounded Cape Horn against the prevailing winds. The Russian government had never allowed a single-handed yachtsman to enter their territorial waters.
Adrian mortgaged his house and bought Barrabas, a unique Stainless Steel boat. With limited funds, he persuaded his ex-wife, Louise to manage the expedition. She won the support of Roman Abramovich to navigate the labyrinthine bureaucracy of the Russian government.
On the fifth day of the expedition, Adrian faced death when a rogue wave swept him from the deck. He was chased by pirates off Brazil, dislocated both wrists and, at Cape Horn, Barrabas capsized in a hurricane. Trapped in the ice floes of the high Arctic, he also came to appreciate the fragile balance of the natural world from a perspective that few have ever seen.
After 30,825 miles, Adrian arrived home on 21st May 2008 escorted by warships of the Royal Navy.
OVER THE TOP
The First Lone Yachtsman to Sail Vertically Around The World
by Adrian Flanagan
Published in hardback by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 6th November 2008, at £16.99
Available from Amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers
