Webb Chiles (born 1941), born Webb Tedford, is an American sailor and author noted for his offshore sailing. He has completed six circumnavigations, several of them single-handed, and is the author of seven books.[1]

Webb Chiles
BornNovember 11, 1941
OccupationAuthor
SpouseCarol Chiles

Early life edit

Webb Chiles was born in 1941 in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to California in 1963.[2]

Sailing edit

 
The colors of the lines are those of the boats who made them: Yellow:  EGREGIOUS White:  CHIDIOCK TICHBORNE 1 and 2 Red:  RESURGAM Green:  THE HAWKE OF TUONELA Gray:  GANNET

First Circumnavigation edit

Leaving in October 1975 from San Diego, he set the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation in his Ericson 37 Egregious, with an eastwards passage around the three capes in 203 days. In this journey he also became the first American to round Cape Horn solo.[3]

Subsequent circumnavigations edit

  • 1978–1984
  • 1984–1990
  • 1991–2003
  • 2008–2009
  • 2014–2019 in Gannet, a Moore 24[4]

Published works edit

  • Chiles, Webb. A Single Wave: Stories of Storms and Survival. Sheridan House, 1999.
  • Chiles, Webb. Return to the Sea. Sheridan House, 2004.
  • Chiles, Webb. Shadows. Amazon, 2011.
  • Chiles, Webb. Storm Passage: Alone around Cape Horn. Times Books, 1977.
  • Chiles, Webb. THE FIFTH CIRCLE: the Passage Log. Amazon, 2011.
  • Chiles, Webb. The Ocean Waits. Norton, 1984.
  • Chiles, Webb. The Open Boat: Across the Pacific. Norton, 1982.

Recognition edit

Cruising Club of America, Bluewater Medal 2017 [1]

Ocean Cruising Club Jester Medal 2014 [5]

Photos edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Cruising Club of America. "Webb Chiles Named 2017 Blue Water Medal Award Recipient". Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  2. ^ Webb Chiles. "Personal website". inthepresentsea.com. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  3. ^ "WebbChiles". solocircumnavigation.com. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "Veteran Circumnavigator Closes the Loop on Sixth Solo Circumnavigation". Sail Magazine. July 24, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "Prizewinner". www.oceancruisingclub.org. Retrieved February 18, 2023.