Galway City Museum last week hosted an unveiling to mark 50 years since Galway’s own Commander Bill King completed a three-year world circumnavigation in his yacht, the Galway Blazer II.
Born William Donald Aelian King in Hampshire, England, Commander King served as a British submarine captain during the second world war, 1939 to 1945.
His great-grandfather, William King (1809–1886 ) had served as professor of natural history, geology and mineralogy at Queen’s College, Galway. Having married Anita Leslie in 1949, he settled in Oranmore Castle, near Galway.
In 1968, aged 58, he was the oldest competitor in the Sunday Times’ Golden Globe Race, the first non-stop, single-handed yacht race around the world via the five great capes. The race length was approximately 30,000 miles.
After two aborted attempts, he completed the circumnavigation under the Irish tricolour on 23 May 1973, aged 62.
The photographs and artefacts of the journey offer an insight into the journey and the people involved. Visitors can view the display in the museum foyer for a short time only. Galway City Museum opens Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm and admission is FREE.
For more info see https://galwaycitymuseum.ie/blog/commander-bill-king-and-the-galway-blazer/.
