Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on Friday 4 May 2007, completed his second solo circumnavigation of the globe aboard 'Saga Insurance'. Participating in the Velux 5 Oceans yacht race, he concludes the 30,000-mile epic race 37 years after his pioneering solo voyage in 1968/9.
At the age of sixty-eight and now a grandfather of five, Sir Robin has halved the time it took him to complete the journey when he was just thirty years old. His 2006/7 voyage has taken 159 days (159 days, 12 hours and 42 minutes) compared to 313 days in 1969.
On arriving into Bilbao, Sir Robin said: "Age hasn't made a difference. I may be 68 but I am a strong, fit 68-year-old and I am ready to take on Mike Tyson. "The race has been great so I have mixed emotions about coming back.
When things were good at sea, I wouldn't have swapped it for anything in the world and 'Saga Insurance' is a lovely boat to sail. I have received a fantastic welcome in Bilbao and it's great to see my family and friends again. I certainly will not be giving up sailing but I won't be going around the world again by myself."
Crossing the finish line off Bilbao, Spain, at 11:22:03 local time
(10:22:03 BST) Sir Robin, who is the oldest skipper in the race, takes third place on the 3,200 nautical mile final leg from Norfolk, Virginia.
* Basque solo sailing skipper Unai Basurko crossed the finish line of the VELUX 5 OCEANS in Bilbao (Basque Country) at 10:03:45 local time (08:03:45
GMT) on Saturday 5 May. The 34 year old sailor completed the third and final leg of the VELUX 5 OCEANS onboard PAKEA after a transatlantic sprint that started in Norfolk (USA) 17 days, 16 hours and 43 minutes ago.
Photos of Sir Robin and Unai Basurko's finishes, courtesy Thierry Martinez and OnEdition, at http://scuttlebutteurope.com/photos
