Sir Chay Blyth returns to the Hamble to celebrate 50th anniversary of his solo circumnavigation

Welcome return from Commodore Robert Vose, as Sir Chay Blyth steps ashore at the Royal Southern Yacht Club on the Hamble, 50 years after his record-setting solo non-stop West-about circumnavigation © Barry Pickthall / PPL

British yachtsman Sir Chay Blyth returned to the Hamble on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his victorious return to the UK at the end of a pioneering 292-day solo non-stop west-about circumnavigation against the prevailing winds and currents aboard his 59ft ketch rigged yacht British Steel.

Sir Chay Blyth leads a parade of sail up the Hamble River - photo © Barry Pickthall / PPL

A large crowd gathered at the Royal Southern Yacht Club to welcome his return, including fellow pioneer solo circumnavigator Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, and Mike Golding who was the first to break Sir Chay's record 23 years later. The fact that only 5 sailors have managed to complete the same 'wrong way' voyage in the 50 years, against the 140 who have sailed East-about with the prevailing winds, underlines the enormity of Blyth's feat 50 years ago when yachts were not equipped with roller furling, GPS navigation, poor communications and only rudimentary self-steering. Blyth's wind vane self steering was smashed in a storm off Cape Horn, and Blyth had to steer his 59ft yacht by hand for the remaining 20,000 miles.

Commodore Robert Vose (left) with Sir Chay Blyth and fellow pioneering solo circumnavigator Sir Rob Knox-Johnston - photo © Barry Pickthall / PPL

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said today: "Francis Chichester, Alec Rose, myself and Chay were the pathfinders when the Brits dominated this form of ocean sailing, which led to a lot of people taking up the sport."

Well-wishers cheer as Sir Chay Blyth arrives at the Royal Southern YC pontoon - photo © Barry Pickthall / PPL

Mike Golding, a former fireman who has completed 6 circumnavigations is one of these. "Sir Chay's voyage excited me enough to get sailing and has shaped my career ever since. The continuing success achieved this last week by Team GB sailors at the Tokyo Olympics may not have been nearly so good had these pioneers like Sir Chay and Sir Robin not excited so many to buy boats and get afloat, for it is their children or grandchildren that are now leading the charge in international sailing. We have a great deal to thank them and today is mark in the history of our sport."

View historic video footage of the original voyage here.

Round the world yachtswoman Tracy Edwards and her MAIDEN crew salute Sir Chay Blyth from the harbour wall - photo © Barry Pickthall / PPL

50 years ago. Chay Blyth returning to the Hamble aboard his 59ft ketch BRITISH STEEL at the end of his 292-day solo non-stop West-about circumnavigation - photo © Chay Blyth Archive / PPL