Because The Horn is There.

SMEETON, Miles.

$50.00

Item Number: 112684

Sidney: Gray's Publishing Ltd, 1970.

First edition of Miles Smeeton’s account of his three attempts to round Cape Horn, made with his wife Beryl. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. From the library of 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 near fine dust jacket. Jacket from a painting by Deryck Foster.

Miles and Beryl Smeeton were a remarkable couple of pioneering explorers, sailors, and mountaineers. In 1951, they bought the 46' bermudan ketch Tzu Hang on a visit to England and in 1956 departed on their first journey which would take them eastbound around Cape Horn, a voyage that at that time had very rarely been accomplished in a small boat. The boat was dismasted in an accident and repaired in Chile. A year later, they attempted the route again, and were again dismasted in approximately the same position and Tzu Hang was shipped to England for repairs. In 1968, they again attempted Cape Horn, westabout, and successfully rounded.