大学英语精读-1 Unit Two: Sailing Round the World -1

At sixty-five Francis Chichester set out to sail single-handed round the world. This is the story of that adventure.

Sailing Round the World

Before he sailed round the world single-handed, Francis Chichester had already surprised his friends several times.

He had tried to fly round the world but failed. That was in 1931.

The years passed. He gave up flying and began sailing.

He enjoyed it greatly. Chichester was already 58 years old when he won the first solo transatlantic sailing race.

His old dream of going round the world came back, but this time he would sail.

His friends and doctors did not think he could do it, as he had lung cancer.

But Chichester was determined to carry out his plan.

In August, 1963, at the age of nearly sixty-five, an age when many men retire, he began the greatest voyage of his life.

Soon, he was away in this new 16-metre boat, Gipsy Moth.

Chichester followed the route of the great nineteenth century clipper ships.

But the clippers had had plenty of crew.

Chicheater did it all by himself, even after the main steering device had been damaged by gales.

Chichester covered 14, 100 miles before stopping in Sydney, Australia.

This was more than twice the distance anyone had previously sailed alone.

He arrived in Australia on 12 December, just 107 days out from England.