Anyone who sailed a boat before they windsurfed has had the experience of feeling they've whittled down sailing to its essence: Just you, the sail, and a bit that floats. It's bold. The very first time I tried getting on a windsurfer, another guy on the beach had just come back from circumnavigating Robins Island in the middle of the Peconic Bays. "Wow" I thought, "a guy can really do stuff on these things!"
Forty years ago today a much more impressive guy, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, circumnavigated…the whole planet. By himself. Nobody had done that before. Can you imagine what it took to do that? Truly a stupendous achievement of sailing and self-sufficiency.
My blogging buddy Adam of Messing About In Sailboats has been making a lot of noise about the 40th anniversary of Knox-Johnston's achievement. I'm happy to add to the din. I also want to circumnavigate Robins Island. Maybe I can get Peconic Jeff to join me in the attempt?
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