Single-Handed Passage.

ALLCARD, Edward C.

Item Number: 111625

London: Putnam, 1950.

First edition of English yachtsman Edward C. Allcard’s detailed account of his solo trip across the Atlantic aboard the yawl Temptress. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. 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. Fosset 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 very good price-clipped dust jacket. Ownership inscription.

Single-Handed Passage gives a detailed account of Edward Allcard's solo crossing of the Atlantic in the 34-foot, forty-year-old yawl Temptress, which sailed from England via Gibraltar and reached New York in 80 days after a voyage of 6,000 miles. Allcard was the first person to cross the Atlantic single-handed in both directions, and wrote several books about his pioneering sailing adventures.