Gipsy Moth IV is a 54ft ketch that Sir Francis Chichester commissioned specifically to race single handed around the globe racing against the times set by the clipper ships in the 19th Century. Square Topsl Gaff Ketch Hawaiian Chieftain on San Francisco Bay A ketch is a sailing craft with two masts: A main mast, and a mizzen mast abaft the main mast. ... Sir Francis Chichester, (born September 17, 1901, Barnstaple, Devon, England – died August 26, 1972, Plymouth, Devon) was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his achievement of sailing solo around the world in only nine months and one day. ...

She was the fourth boat he called Gipsy Moth. The name originated from the Gipsy Moth type of aircraft that Sir Francis completed pioneering work in aerial navigation techniques. The De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth was a variant of the DH.60 Moth powered by the De Havilland Gipsy I engine. ...

Gipsy Moth IV made maritime history in 1966-67 when Sir Francis completed the fastest solo circumnavigation in a small vessel, sailing from Plymouth to a stop over in Sydney, Australia and back via Cape Horn in just 274 days (226 days actual sailing time). In his writings Sir Francis complained about some of the handling characteristics of Gipsy Moth IV. Sydney Harbour looking south from the vicinity of the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards the CBD skyline; the Opera House is visible in the background on the left. ...

The boat had tiller steering which was very unusual for a yacht of this length. Tiller steering had to be used to allow for self steering equipment essential for the trip. Gipsy Moth IV was fitted with self steering equipment built using the design priciples established by Blondie Hasler A tiller is a lever attached to a rudder post (american terminology) or rudder stock (english terminology) in order to provide the leverage for the helmsman to turn the rudder. ... A tiller is a lever attached to a rudder post (american terminology) or rudder stock (english terminology) in order to provide the leverage for the helmsman to turn the rudder. ... Lt. ...

After the death of Sir Francis, Gipsy Moth IV was put on permanent display at Greenwich, England in a land locked purpose built dry dock near the Cutty Sark. The yacht was open to the public for many years but eventually due to general deterioration was permanently closed to visitors but remained on display at Greenwich. Greenwich (pronounced gren-itch , or by the locals) is a town, now part of the south eastern urban sprawl of London, on the south bank of the river Thames in the London Borough of Greenwich. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... Cutty-sark - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ...

Gipsy Moth IV remained undisturbed but slowly and surely rotting away until in 2004 she was purchased by the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) for the sum of £1 and a glass of gin & tonic (Sir Francis' favourite tipple) and taken to the famous Camper & Nicholson yard for restoration. The purchase is part of an ambitious plan by the UKSA, Yachting Monthly, and The Maritime Trust, to restore her to sail in the 2005 Blue Water Round the World Rally. The Maritime Trust is a Registered Charity in the UK, at 2 Greenwich Church Street, London SE10 9BG. It was founded in founded in 1969 and amalgamated with the Cutty Sark Society in 1989, and has a remit is to restore, preserve and display to the public historic British ships. ... 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2005 the bill for retoration was reported in the yachting press to be estimated at £1,000,000.

Further reading

Gipsy Moth Circles the World, Francis Chichester. Hodder and Stoughton 1967.

External link

• Official restoration project site