Francis, Clare (1946–)
Francis, Clare (1946–)
British sailor, yacht racer and novelist. Born Clare Mary Francis, April 17, 1946, in Surbiton, England; attended Royal Ballet School; earned degree in economics at University College, London; m. Jacques Redon; children: 1.
Made solo trip across Atlantic in a 32-foot boat in 37 days; came in 3rd in Round Britain Race (1975); sailed solo to Azores and back (1975); participated in the Observer Royal Western Singlehanded Transatlantic Race and was 1 of 4 women to finish, coming in 13th out of 125 entrants, setting a women's transatlantic record; the 1st woman skipper in the Whitbread Round the World challenge, finished 5th with an 11-member crew; wrote Come Hell or High Water (1977), Come Wind and Weather (1978) and The Commanding Sea (1979); began writing novels which include Night Sky (1983), Wolf Winter (1987), Requiem (1991), Deceit (1993), Betrayal(1995), Keep Me Close (1999), and A Death Divided (2001). Made MBE (1981).
See also Woman Alone: Sailing Solo Across the Atlantic (1977).