Achievements

• 1969: First to sail solo non-stop around the world. Awarded the CBE
• 1970: UK Yachtsman of the Year
• 1970: Royal Cruising Club Seamanship Medal.
• 1972: Elected a Younger Brother of Trinity House.
• 1972: Member of the RNLI Committee of Management
• 1990: Silk Cut Nautical award Seamanship Trophy
• 1990: Honorary Doctorate – Maine Maritime Academy
• 1991: Cruising World Magazine (USA) Medal of honour
• 1992: Royal Institute of Navigation - Gold Medal
• 1994: Fastest non-stop circumnavigation
• 1994: Elected Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation.

• 1994: The Maritime Trust's Cutty Sark Medal
• 1994: IYRU World Sailor of the year.
• 1994: UK Yachtsman of the Year (2nd time)
• 1995: The Institute of Navigation (USA) Superior Achievement Award
• 1995: Knighted
• 2007: Completed 2nd solo circumnavigation
• 2007: UK Yachtsman of the Year (record 3rd time)
• 2007: First to be inducted into the ISAF Hall of Fame