Bill King (Royal Navy officer)

William "Bill" King (22 January 1910 – 21 March 2012) was a Royal Navy officer, submarine commander, yachtsman, and author. He is best known for his solo circumnavigation of the world in 1973 in his junk-rigged yacht Galway Blazer II.

King joined the Royal Navy in 1928. During World War II, he served as a submarine commander, commanding HMS Snapper (N39), HMS Trusty (N45), and HMS Electra (H27). He was credited with sinking several enemy vessels and awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Bar.

After retiring from the Royal Navy in 1956, King pursued a career in farming in Ireland. He also became involved in yachting and developed an interest in junk rigs.

In 1973, at the age of 63, King embarked on his solo circumnavigation. He sailed from Plymouth, England, in Galway Blazer II, a converted junk-rigged yacht. The voyage was fraught with difficulties, including a severe storm in the Southern Ocean that almost capsized the yacht. King successfully navigated the world and returned to Plymouth in 1975.

King wrote several books about his experiences, including Cape Horn: The Story of the Cape Horn Breed, Sloop Spray: Around the World Alone, and Warspite: The Story of Britain's Greatest Battleship. He was a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation.