TEIGNMOUTH was in a state of shock when it was announced that Donald Crowhurst had disappeared while sailing home to a triumphant return as the apparent leader in a single handed around the world yacht race.

The day after the news broke in July 1969 that his trimaran Teignmouth Electron had been found drifting and abandoned, all sorts of rumours were spreading.

A news report at the time declared: Most people now accept his disappearance on a flat calm sea will go down as another mystery of the sea.

‘The news hit Teignmouth like a bombshell as it spread around the town last night. It was first greeted with disbelief, and then deep shock.

One local who had become closely involved with the venture said: ‘If Donald had perished going around the Cape or some other treacherous part of the ocean, I could have understood, but to disappear without trace like this is absolutely sickening.

‘We have all been worried about him at different times during the voyage, especially when he was unheard of for so long, but we all thought most of the danger was over and he would soon be back.’

The news was met with stunned silence in the bar of the harbourside Ship Inn, where his voyage had been been closely followed by regulars.

On one of the bar walls was a large map marked with his progress through the oceans. Photographs and telegrams were displayed nearby.

Now they have all been taken down and the space will remain blank as a tribute and memorial.

Local fishermen and boatmen drink at the Ship and landlord Bill Harvey said several theories for the disappearance had been discussed.

‘Most of the boatmen seem to think he must have had delirium from a lack of water perhaps, and gone over in a bout of dizziness.’

Henry Harris, president of the Teign Corinthian Yacht Club which was helping with the homecoming said they were all terribly upset at the news.

“‘I just do not know what to say. He was almost home and all the preparations were more or less tide up – and now this.’

Council vice-chairman Dick Evely declared: ‘This will be the greatest shock the town has known in years. Crowhurst is Teignmouth. the whole town from the young to the old have been involved with welcoming him back.’

Crowhurst’s friend and agent Rodney Hallworth maintained it was too early to assume he had lost his life, because he had great fortitude and resilience.

‘But from the bleak message so far received, his chances must be regarded as pessimistic.

‘In only the worst circumstances would he have abandoned ship. I can only assume he was thrown overboard.

‘Before he left he told me would never abandon ship unless in a position of danger, with the odds right against him.

‘If his boat had been found battered and in pieces, then the answer would be simple.

‘But to be found in peaceful Mary Celeste type conditions suggest to me that nature had played one of her wickedest tricks on him.

‘I am confident if he was given the slightest chance of survival, he would have taken it.’

Later it was discovered Crowhurst had faked his logs, and never left the Atlantic.

He expected to be second or third home and there would be little scrutiny of his logs. But realised that if he was unexpectedly in the lead, the logs would be gone over with a fine tooth comb, exposing him as a cheat.

History records that he more than likely had a mental breakdown, and jumped over the side rather than face the shame.

Teignmouth backed his entry in the race for the publicity value.

The tragic tale produced books, films, and documentaries and generated more publicity than the resort could ever have dreamed of.