Yachting History and the 'Taste of the Sea'

In 1919 the real taste for the sea might have started with a 14,000 mile journey from the United Kingdom to New Zealand, packed off to sea with a third class ticket, Francis took to working on the ship in the boiler room as part of the "Black Gang" earning himself nine pounds to supplement his funds for arriving in new Zealand. He was 19 years old and alone in New Zealand.

SS Bremen - Francis first Ocean passage was taken onboard a ship seized from the German empire after WW1. Leaving England as a passenger, soon he worked the boiler room as part of the black gang, shoveling coal for the boilers.

For many years life in New Zealand for Francis was very much a period of growing up in business and venturing into all sorts of work. There is little documented to suggest that he would set sail and he focused his ambitions on learning to fly.

Gipsy Moth I  was his aircraft and the first real step into the ocean began after World War II.  His first vessel was Gipsy Moth II  - which was his first real taste of sailing racing and ultimately single-handed challenges.

Gipsy Moth I - 1600lbs  - 85hp - Wingspan  (30 ft 0 in); Length (23 ft 11 in); Height (8ft 9.5 in)

 

Gipsy Moth III was 13 tons - 39ft 7 inches long and a draft of 6ft 5 inches

The celebrated winner of the first Solo Transatlantic Race (OSTAR) in 1960, earned a unique place in British and international yachting history when Francis Chichester accepted ‘Blondie’ Hasler’s challenge to sail the Atlantic from east to west for a prize of ‘half a crown’.

Gipsy Moth IV was some 18 tons  - 53ft a draft of 7ft 1 inch the most famous moth of all, now loving owned and operated by UKSA.

Gipsy Moth V was some 59ft and the last vessel to bear the name.