Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world. In April 2009 he celebrated the 40th anniversary of his return to Falmouth in Suhaili, 312 days after setting sail on a voyage no one else had ever accomplished. In 2007 he completed his second solo circumnavigation as a competitor in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race.
Sir Robin is the founder and Chairman of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and is an inspirational figurehead to those who sail with Clipper, be it in the Clipper Race, on a corporate management training or team development day with Clipper Events, or learning to sail with Clipper Training.
In 1957 he went to sea with the Merchant Navy as a Deck officer with the British India Steam Navigation Company, gaining his Master's Certificate in 1965.
Following his historic solo circumnavigation, which he completed three months before Neil Armstrong made one giant leap for mankind and set foot on the moon for the first time, Sir Robin went on to set more records and seal his place as one of the greatest sailors of all time.
He skippered Condor to line honours in two legs of the 1977/8 Whitbread Race and co-skippered ENZA New Zealand with the late Peter Blake to take the Jules Verne Trophy in 1994 for the fastest circumnavigation of the world.
In 1992 Sir Robin was invited to become President of the Sail Training Association, a youth development organisation which operated two topsail schooners, and also organised the annual Tall Ships races. Before he retired from the post in 2001, £11 million had been raised to replace the two schooners with two larger brigs, Prince William and Stavros Niarchos.
He served as a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich from 1993 until 2003, and on the Sports Lottery Panel and Sport England Council from 1996 until 2002. As well as his chairmanship of Clipper Ventures Plc, in which he plays a very active role, he is currently President of the Little Ship Club and the Cruising Association.
He was Knighted in 1995 and has been the UK's Yachtsman of the Year an unrivalled three times. In 1994 he and Peter Blake were named ISAF Sailor of the Year and in 2007 Sir Robin was one of the first six inductees into the ISAF Hall of Fame.
Sir Robin says, "As in business, success on the water depends on strong team work, leadership, communication and a competitive edge. I am proud of Clipper Ventures’ record of delivering premium sailing experiences that meet our clients’ objectives for fleet racing, corporate hospitality, management training and employee reward."