Veteran sailor Sir Robin takes on the Atlantic again at the age of 75

Sir Robin, who founded the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, has returned to his solo ocean-racing roots by entering his Open 60 yacht Grey Power into the Route du Rhum competition which started yesterday in St Malo, France.

The pensioner, who is the oldest participant to have entered so far, last competed in the 3,500-mile race in 1982 in his 70ft catamaran Olympus.

The 2014 race was open to mono and multihull boats across four classes with almost 80 entrants and Sir Robin is racing in the Rhum class.

Speaking ahead of the race, Sir Robin said: “I am doing this because I bloody well want to. I have been working hard with the Clipper Race the last year. I did the Sydney-Hobart and loved it. I looked around to see what was coming up and here we are. It is a race I have done before.

“There are more people here now than in 1982, the age and profile of the people who visit is much the same. I don’t know
any other race that attracts this much attention. It is phenomenal.

“There are bound to be questions about my age. They ask what I think of doing this at 75 and I say I am still 45. That is how I feel. I think I am 45 and that is where I stay. I feel no different to when I last raced. I am pretty fit. I lead an active life. I think of myself as young and that is it.

“I treat myself as young and I am just not ready for the slippers, pipe and television. That is not coming in a hurry.”