Gipsy Moth IV in restoration to circle the globe

The most famous of Sir Francis Chichester’s Gipsy Moths is cocooned at Elephant Boatyard, undergoing a major restoration for a new owner. The 53ft (16m) ketch, designed by Illingworth and Primrose and built in cold-moulded mahogany by Camper and Nicholsons in 1966, was last rebuilt for her much-publicised world circumnavigation in 2005-6 through the Panama and Suez canals. The current work will see her returned to closer to her original state, and strong enough for a proposed third global circumnavigation in 2025 – only this time, the voyage will be south of the three great capes, following the route taken by the clipper ships and, of course, Sir Francis in his ground-breaking 1966-7 voyage. It’s anticipated that Gipsy Moth IV will be ready quite a bit before that though – in time to be present at the start of the Golden Globe Race 2022 on 4 September.