Guinness World Record

On October 14 1984, I left Victoria British Columbia on a solo non-stop Circumnavigation of the globe. My goal was to arrive back in Victoria safely, encounter what the tall ship sailors had experienced and to complete the journey in as fast a time as I could. On my return, I learned that I had broken the overall world record for all sizes of sailing craft and subsequent letters to "Nobby" Clark, the Guinness record keeper for sailing records, confirmed it. Six months later my overall record was broken by Dodge Morgan, however I retained my record for sailing vessels up to 50 feet. Nobby's first letter requested I send him specific information and his second letter established my record. I've transcribed Nobby's second letter for easy reading.

Nobby Clark's Second Letter

December 3^rd 1986

Dear Peter,

Many thanks for the picture, and for your long and very interesting letter. Let me put your mind at rest: sending and receiving mail is within the 'rules', and so is shaking hands. The official invasion of your yacht at Port Stanley (in view of the war) does not interfere with 'nonstop' because it was official business (you might, for example, have been ordered to heave-to at sea and boarded by the R.N. for inspection --- or later by US coastguards suspecting drug smuggling; official invasion cannot alter the 'nonstop' category providing no food, water or other supplies are handed over to the singlehander). Passing mail to the Frenchmen on Kerguelen could have ended your 'nonstop' attempt if the barge had damaged LAIVINA and you were forced into Port Aux Francais, but fortunately you managed to avoid this disaster. I think I can ignore the 'help' given to you by the one Frenchman! The meeting with friends in Otago Harbour did not break any 'rules'.

You're wrong in suspecting you are the only singlehander to go round without radio contact. LES POWLES (GB) had even less money than you, very little food, no radio and no contact with land (he didn't even see any land for 325 days!!). He was on short rations within a week of starting from England in 1980, and he went on to half rations off NZ. He had no food on board for the last 10 days of his circum. A desperate voyage! SOLITAIRE was 34' 0 x 10' 3" x 5' 6", GRP Bermudan Sloop; she rounded all five capes, from/to England W-E (H4), 1980-1.

As I think I mentioned in my previous letter, I have you down as the 12^th singlehanded nonstop circumnavigator, and at that time you held the record for the fastest nonstop singlehanded circumnavigation (all sizes of craft included). As you know DODGE MORGAN easily beat your time, but don't despair about this. Many years ago I divided up the sizes of all B.W.G. yachts as follows:

Now that singlehanders are consistently sailing major sized yachts seeking 'fastest' records, the time has come to break the fastest into size classifications.

THEREFORE you hold the record for the fastest singlehanded nonstop circumnavigation in a medium sized yacht: from/to SANTA BARBARA, W-E (H3), 1984-5, taking 236 days 10 hours 45 minutes. You can take this as official: offered by the Guinness Book of Records (but subject to counter-claims, I have to do this because it is impossible to be absolutely certain about and BWG record since so many nationalities are involved, and so many singlehanders -- and other crewed yachts -- do not report their voyages, and remain incognito for years). But you are at liberty to quote me as confirming all of the above, and I very much doubt if a counter claim is possible until someone goes out and actually beats your time. In the meantime, if you pass this to your publishers, it will do your book a lot of good.

Incidentally, you forgot to enclose a copy of the letter Penny received from the RYA dated 13.1.85 If you will send me this I'll write to them and put them into the picture. (I'm surprised they didn't know about me -- most organizations and journalists do).

I'm so pleased we finally made contact. Sometimes it takes years before I manage to establish facts about a particular record. So if you hear of anybody who is thinking about BWG record, do give them my address. I always reply by return of post. Although this has been my hobby for over 50 years, I appreciate some payment in the initial stages to cover postal charges. So if you refer anyone to me, please take not of this sticker. (I'm not asking you for $5.00, but I will certainly appreciate a copy of your book)

I'll finish with congratulations on your record, and wish you a very happy Christmas and a very prosperous New Year.

All the best,

Nobby.

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