Lot 126: Leslie Charles Worth (British, 1923-2009) A series of views illustrating the return of Sir Francis Chichester to Plymouth in May 1967, after his circumnavigation of the globe in 1966-67

A series of views illustrating the return of Sir Francis Chichester to Plymouth in May 1967, after his circumnavigation of the globe in 1966-67
a set of 11, nine signed with initials 'L.W.'
watercolour
each 5.4 x 7.1cm x 2 13/16in).
and one larger, 4.8 x 15 cm (1 7/8 x 5 7/8in), (11)

1. Gypsy Moth off the Cape
2. The Beacon is Lit
3. Escort Home
4. Chichester crosses the Line
5. Coming into the Sound
6. Welcome by the fire-boats
7. Boarding the Launch
8. Beacon on the Hoe
9. Reception by the Lord Mayor
10. The Landing-stage
11. The Reception Car

PROVENANCE:
with Thomas Agnew and Sons Ltd.

Francis Chichester, born in north Devon in 1901, was a deep sea yachtsman who had made himself a reputation as a long distance pilot long before becoming a household name. Turning to sailing as a recreation after the Second World War, he bought a second-hand sloop in 1955 and renamed her Gipsy Moth II, in memory of the Gipsy Moth light aeroplane in which he had flown solo to Australia in 1929. After winning the first single-handed transatlantic race in his new Gipsy Moth III in 1960, he then decided not only to try and equal or better the average sailing time to Australia by the old clipper ships, but also to do it single-handedly. With yet another new yacht, Gipsy Moth IV, he left Plymouth on 27th August 1966 and arrived in Sydney in 107 days. From Sydney he went on to complete the circumnavigation back to Plymouth where he arrived on 28th May 1967 in an astounding overall time of 274 days, 48 of which had been spent in Sydney, first resting and then preparing for the homeward leg. After leaving Plymouth, he sailed up the English Channel and into the Thames Estuary where he was knighted by the Queen in July 1967.