The Long Way.

MOITESSIER, Bernard.

Item Number: 112360

Hertfordshire: Adlard Coles Limited, 1974.

First edition in English of Bernard Moitessier’s account of his solo non-stop yachting voyage around the world. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs, charts and maps. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fossett was also one of sailing’s most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviation’s highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. Near fine in a good dust jacket with loss to the front panel. Jacket design by Domenico Rodi.

In 1968, French sailor Bernard Moitessier participated in he 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, the first non-stop, single-handed, round the world yacht race. With the fastest circumnavigation time towards the end of the race, Moitessier was the likely winner for the fastest voyage, but he elected to continue on to Tahiti and not return to the start line in England, rejecting the idea of the commercialization of long distance sailing. Moitessier's account of the experience, The Long Way, tells the story of his voyage as a spiritual journey as much as a sailing adventure and is still regarded as a classic of sailing and adventuring literature.