The sailor of the century

[interloper]

I'll mention my own dark horse candidate: Harry Pidgeon. He was the second man to solo-circumnavigate, and the first man to solo-circumnavigate twice. I'll assume Joshua Slocum is disqualified due to his circumnavigation being during the previous century.

 

[sailgoodthefaultless]

well this century would have been Ben Ainslie but I got his book for Christmas and decided that like all driven sailors he could be a bit gittish.
I recall one passage where he name checks a fellow competitor who as a teenager in a race laughed at him as he was capsized. no mention of this chap later I think so presumably just some teenager in a race hardly a longstanding lifetime rival. Have to say that is carrying revenge a bit cold even for my liking naming a minor slight by a youngster years later. Also lots of.... he just covered me not trying to win but when I do it its ok. ... I am sure he is super chap and all that its just he did not come across well in his book, yes I know it was co-written/as told to. I would go back and check but I gave it away.

RKJ gets my vote sailed on water, but judging by the photo of him at the start of the first round the world on the pontoon with his supplies, it seems he he ran on whisky

 

[Sybarite]

Another personality to consider is Jimmy Cornell and how he has promoted ocean sailing.

Incidentally he is building a new 45' boat at Garcia in France.

 

[Nico]

That's "Last Century" presumably: Which rules out Francis Joyon and Dylan Winter, both of whose most significant achievements have been in this century.

Interesting question. Should we base it on achievement (of which "competitions won" is a subset), perceived sailing skills (which, unless we've sailed with them, is presumably dependent on achievement) or inspiration? Tabarly seems a fair choice if you're either French or not obsessed with nationalism. Not being very competitive, I'm probably in the minority focusing on the latter category. Gotta be Moitessier.

Moitessier for me too. A real "soul sailor".

Frank Dye, if it is about huge achievement against the elements.