Callum: Hello I'm Callum Robertson and this is People and Places. In the programme

today we hear from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who has just completed a very tough

race. The Velux 5-Oceans race. This is a sailing race where competitors sail

around the world single-handed. This means they do it solo, they do it by

themselves.

This is an incredibly tough challenge for anybody, but Robin Knox-Johnston's

achievement is even more remarkable when you learn that he is 68 years old.

But Sir Robin is no stranger to the sea. And no stranger to long sea voyages. In

fact in 1969 he was the first person ever to sail solo around the world.

This most recent race lasted from October 2006 to May, this year, 2007. Shortly

after his return from his voyage he spoke to BBC Radio 4 about his experience. He

was first asked how he was feeling. What was his response?

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Very well thanks, slowly recovering. Takes a bit longer now I'm older to get over a long voyage

like that. When I was in my 30s I probably got over it in a couple of days. Takes a bit longer for

the batteries to recharge, it's happening and I'm beginning to start bouncing around again.

Callum: He says that he is slowly recovering! When he was younger he recovered faster,

but now it takes a bit longer. He uses the word recovering and two other

expressions which have a similar meaning. Listen again and see if you can catch

them.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

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Very well thanks, slowly recovering. Takes a bit longer now I'm older to get over a long voyage

like that. When I was in my 30s I probably got over it in a couple of days. Takes a bit longer for

the batteries to recharge, it's happening and I'm beginning to start bouncing around again.

Callum: He talks about 'getting over' his voyage. To 'get over something' is a

prepositional verb which means to recover from something; it could be something

physical or emotional. In this clip it was a long physically, demanding race.

He also said that now he was older it took longer for the 'batteries to recharge'. To

recharge your batteries is another expression which means to recover from feeling

tired or exhausted.

This is People and Places and today we're hearing about the round-the-world

yachtsman Sir Robin Knox Johnston. One thing that has been highlighted by the

media is his age. At 68 years old he is the oldest person to do the race, but is he the

oldest person to sail around the world

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

I'm the oldest person to actually do the race, a Japanese friend of mine's gone round and he's 71,

so I'm not the oldest person, I'm the oldest person to do this race.

Callum: He says that the oldest person to go round the world is not him, but a 71 year-old

Japanese friend. Does Sir Robin like the attention he gets because of his age?

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

No because I feel that again it's sort of pointing out that it's strange that someone of my age

would want to do something like this whereas I don't think it's strange at all, I'm sure there's a lot

of other people of my age who'd like to do similar active things and should be getting on with it,

in my view.

Callum: He doesn't really like his age being highlighted because he feels that it is not

strange or unusual for someone of his age to be doing something like this. For him

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it is what he does, it's natural and age is not an issue. He thinks, in fact, that more

people in his age group should get on and do active, physical things. Listen again.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

No because I feel that again it's sort of pointing out that it's strange that someone of my age

would want to do something like this whereas I don't think it's strange at all, I'm sure there's a lot

of other people of my age who'd like to do similar active things and should be getting on with it,

in my view.

Callum: So what now for Sir Robin. What's his next challenge? He mentions two things he

might do, one thing he is doing and one thing he won't do. What are they?

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

I've got a book to write, which hopefully will come out this year. I'm not sure yet, I'm thinking of

taking up flying. I'd like to take that up. I may do a bit more racing, who knows, but I certainly

will not be going solo around the world again.

Callum: The one thing he is going to do is write a book, one thing he might do is take up

flying, to take up flying, to learn how to do it, he also might race again and the one

thing he says he won't do? That's go solo around the world again. Listen once

more.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

I've got a book to write, which hopefully will come out this year. I'm not sure yet, I'm thinking of

taking up flying. I'd like to take that up. I may do a bit more racing, who knows, but I certainly

will not be going solo around the world again.

Callum: Well I just hope that when I get to Sir Robin's age I am as fit and active and with

as huge an appetite for life. That's all from this edition of People and Places.
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