Donald Crowhurst, a father of four with a dream and a rickety sailing boat, disappeared during the 1968 Golden Globe race. His tale has inspired two movies, including Hollywood blockbuster "The Mercy."
Donald Crowhurst, a father of four with a dream and a rickety sailing boat, disappeared during the 1968 Golden Globe race. His tale has inspired two movies, including Hollywood blockbuster "The Mercy."
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In order to meet the October 31 deadline to enter the race, the trimaran was put together in a rush, meaning Crowhurst set off on an un-seaworthy boat. "We were watching from the shore," said his son, Simon. "I don't think any of us quite knew what was going to happen next."
In order to meet the October 31 deadline to enter the race, the trimaran was put together in a rush, meaning Crowhurst set off on an un-seaworthy boat. "We were watching from the shore," said his son, Simon. "I don't think any of us quite knew what was going to happen next."
Eric Tall/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
By July 1969, some 240 days after he set off from the British coast, Crowhurst's yacht, the Teignmouth Electron, was found drifting in the middle of the Atlantic with its captain nowhere to be found.
By July 1969, some 240 days after he set off from the British coast, Crowhurst's yacht, the Teignmouth Electron, was found drifting in the middle of the Atlantic with its captain nowhere to be found.
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What happened between the start of his journey and the end is still shrouded in mystery. There are clues in Crowhurst's three log books, which suggested he began to cable home false trip reports about speed and position once he realized his inadequate vessel wasn't going to win the race two weeks into it.
What happened between the start of his journey and the end is still shrouded in mystery. There are clues in Crowhurst's three log books, which suggested he began to cable home false trip reports about speed and position once he realized his inadequate vessel wasn't going to win the race two weeks into it.
Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Colin Firth plays Crowhurst in the blockbuster, currently out in cinemas. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Fsport%2Fsailing">Visit CNN.com/sailing for more news and features.</a>
Colin Firth plays Crowhurst in the blockbuster, currently out in cinemas. Visit CNN.com/sailing for more news and features.
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