Britain's press dubbed it "Chichysteria." The phenomenon quickly produced tea towels, bone-china mugs, picture postcards, model boat kits, jigsaw puzzles, health foods and even pink panties emblazoned with a black anchor—all in tribute to Sir Francis Chichester. The gaunt, 65-year-old mariner, whose solo circumnavigation of the globe ended last week, became the hottest commercial property in hero-starved Britain since Twiggy.
While feeling somewhat uncomfortable amid the ballyhoo ("I honestly can't say that I enjoy mass fame"), Sir Francis suffered the commercial storm with the same aplomb that he displayed in the gale winds...