Unstoppable Tony Curphey has a rest
Solo sailor Tony Curphey has returned from a seven-month voyage to the Atlantic islands of Porto Santo, Madeira and St Helena.
Both the Nicholson 32 Mk X, Nicola Deux, and the skipper are now enjoying some much needed rest.
Four-time circumnavigator Curphey sailed into the history books in 2019, when aged 74, he became the oldest sailor to sail round the world singlehanded, non-stop and unassisted. Jean Socrates subsequently took the record.
He left Chichester Harbour in August 2020 on his latest voyage, sailing 900 miles to Porto Santo. After a brief stop, he battled headwinds for 50 days to St Helena, some 5,700 miles away.
Following a COVID test, Curphey was allowed ashore, shortly before the remote island’s port was closed to all incoming vessels. During his two month stay, he found the locals to be “extremely friendly and helpful.”
Despite ‘Nicky’ suffering engine failure, Curphey departed on 3 February, and with south-east trade winds sailed 5,861 miles non-stop to Chichester, in 53 days.
He said: “I had seven months away, missing a miserable winter I was told and possibly the worst of the pandemic.
“Nicky was hauled out two days later for a long stay ashore, with her and the skipper needing much TLC after sailing over 91,000 miles in eight years.”