Gipsy Moth IV

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The plaque to the display of the Gipsy Moth IV.

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.

Designed by John Illingworth and Angus Primrose, she was the fourth boat he called Gipsy Moth. The name originated from the de Havilland Gipsy Moth aircraft in which Sir Francis completed pioneering work in aerial navigation techniques.

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. In his book The Circumnavigators, Don Holm describes Gipsy Moth IV as "perhaps one of the worst racing yachts ever built".[1]

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 principles established by Blondie Hasler.

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.

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. Although C&N did the work at cost price<ref name="CN_costprice">http://www.yachtrallies.co.uk/3news/GipsyMoth.htm</ref>, the restoration cost over £300,000.<ref name="GMIVcostestimate">http://www.gipsymoth.org/press_01.asp</ref>

The restoration was 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 Gipsy Moth set sail from Plymouth sound on the first leg of her voyage on the 25th of September 2005. She had a mixture of experienced crew and youth on board. This included: Skipper: Richard Bagget First mate: Dewi Thomas Crew: Richard Gelder (Editor of Yachting Monthly) Crew 1: Matthew Pakes (Isle of Wight) Crew 2: Peter Heggie (Plymouth) Crew 3: Elaine Cadwell (Scotland)

The first leg took just over two weeks to reach her destination, Gibraltar. There was a crew change at Villahamora where Richard Gelder left and Tom Buggy join the craft for the rest of the leg.

In 2006 she ran aground on an atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Very expensive repairs were made at various locations, some in a shipping yard in New Zealand, more major repairs made to the hull took place in Sydney. After an extensive restoration in Auckland, the ship was repaired and sailing again in July 2006.