''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 f ...

sailed by Sir

Robin Knox-Johnston Sir William Robert Patrick Knox-Johnston CBE RD* (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 in 1994 the s ...

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 non-stop round-the-world yacht race. The race was controversial due to the failure of most competitors t ...

Design and construction

''Suhaili'' was built in Mumbai with the help of

Royal Bombay Yacht Club The Royal Bombay Yacht Club (RBYC) is one of the premier gentlemen's clubs which was founded in 1846 in Colaba (formerly Wellington Pier (Bombay), Wellington Pier), an area of Mumbai in India. The building was designed by John Adams, who also d ...

, 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 for both 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 was 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 villages ...

, near Southampton, UK. The objective was to get her back into commission and Sir Robin duly took delivery in February 2020, as reported in an Elephant Boatyard Facebook post. ''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 t ...

, 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 ...

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

. 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 in the St Katherine and Wapping ward of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It lies in the East End of London, East End on the north bank of the River Thames, immediately downstream of the Tower of London an ...

, in a display known as the Avenue of Sail.

External links

Robin Knox-Johnston - boats

References

{{Reflist Sailing ships 1960s sailing yachts Sailing yachts built in India Sailboat type designs by William Atkin