''Suhaili'' is the name of the
Bermudan ketch
A ketch is a two- masted sailboat whose mainmast is taller than the mizzen mast (or aft-mast), and whose mizzen mast is stepped forward of the rudder post. The mizzen mast stepped forward of the rudder post is what distinguishes the ketch fro ...
sailed by Sir
Robin Knox-Johnston
Sir William Robert Patrick Knox-Johnston (born 17 March 1939) is a British sailor. In 1969, he became the first person to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. Along with Sir Peter Blake, he won the second Jules Ver ...
in the first non-stop solo circumnavigation of the world in the
Sunday Times Golden Globe Race
The ''Sunday Times'' Golden Globe Race was a non-stop, single-handed, round-the-world yacht race, held in 1968–1969, and was the first round-the-world yacht race. The race was controversial due to the failure of most competitors to finish th ...
.
Design and Construction
''Suhaili'' was built in Bombay with the help of
Royal Bombay Yacht Club, India in 1963. She follows plans designed by William Atkin for "Eric" in 1923. Her design is based on the Norwegian sailing lifeboat designs of
Colin Archer Colin Archer (22 July 1832 – 8 February 1921) was a Norwegian naval architect and shipbuilder known for his seaworthy pilot and rescue boats and the larger sailing and polar ships. His most famous ship is the '' Fram'', used on both in Fridt ...
.
Notable Appearances
In 1997 ''Suhaili'' went to the National Maritime Museum at Falmouth as an exhibit, but the controlled atmosphere began to shrink her planking, and, unwilling to see her die this way, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston removed her in 2002 and re-fitted her again. She still belongs to Knox-Johnston and is currently being slowly re-fastened at the
Elephant Boatyard at
Bursledon
Bursledon is a village on the River Hamble in Hampshire, England. It is located within the borough of Eastleigh. Close to the city of Southampton, Bursledon has a railway station, a marina, dockyards and the Bursledon Windmill. Nearby villag ...
, near Southampton, UK with the objective of getting her back into commission.
''Suhaili'' was one of a number of prestigious vessels moored along the route of the
Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant
The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant was a parade on 3 June 2012 of 670 boats on the Tideway of the River Thames in London as part of the celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The Queen, Prince Philip and other members of ...
, to celebrate the
diamond jubilee
A diamond jubilee celebrates the 60th anniversary of a significant event related to a person (e.g. accession to the throne or wedding, among others) or the 60th anniversary of an institution's founding. The term is also used for 75th annivers ...
of
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
. Due to her size, she was not part of the flotilla, and was instead moored with other vessels at
St Katharine Docks
St Katharine Docks is a former dock and now a mixed-used district in Central London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and within the East End. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, immediately downstream of the Tower of London ...
, in a display known as the Avenue of Sail.
External links
* http://www.robinknox-johnston.co.uk/da/20076
* https://www.robinknox-johnston.co.uk/boats/
References
{{Reflist
Sailing ships
1960s sailing yachts
Sailing yachts built in India
Sailboat type designs by William Atkin