Big Red Book

Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Naomi James, yachtswoman, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Earls Court Boat Show in London, while receiving a special presentation from the Royal Navy.

Naomi, who was born in New Zealand, learned about sailing from her husband Rob James, who was skippering yachts for Chay Blyth. She made the decision to sail single-handed around the world during her honeymoon, having had only six weeks sailing experience at the time. Chay Blyth lent her the boat Spirit of Cutty Sark, later renamed Express Crusader, while other people raised money for supplies and the Daily Express newspaper raised sponsorship money.

Naomi became the first woman to sail single-handed around the world via Cape Horn, departing from Dartmouth, Devon on 9 September 1977 in the 53-foot yacht Express Crusader, and finishing her voyage around the globe on 8 June 1978 after 272 days - improving Sir Francis Chichester's solo round-the-world sailing record by two days.

"How extraordinary!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 506
• Subject No: 503
• Broadcast date: Wed 10 Jan 1979
• Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
• Recorded: Wed 10 Jan 1979
• Venue: New London Theatre
• Series: 19
• Edition: 12
• Code name: Lionheart

on the guest list...

• Rob - husband
• Bob - father
• Joan - mother
• Juliet - sister
• brother-in-law
• Brendan - brother
• Fiona - sister
• Paul Millett
• Jane Millett
• Martha Masse
• Georgette - mother-in-law
• John - father-in-law
• Chay Blyth
• Maureen Blyth
• Quentin Waller
• Gerry Whitehead - via telephone
• Bern Cuthbertson - via telephone
• Les Halladay
• Sir Alec Rose

related appearances...

• Tom McClean - Jan 1988
• Lisa Clayton - Sep 1995

production team...

• Researcher: Debbie Gaunt
• Writer: John Sandilands
• Directors: Royston Mayoh, Terry Yarwood
• Producer: Jack Crawshaw

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

Life on the Ocean Wave

adventurers of the high seas

The Big Red Book

the programme's icon

Chay Blyth

Screenshots of Naomi James This Is Your Life