 With the announcement in 1960 of the first single-handed trans-Atlantic yacht race (from Plymouth, UK to the US East Coast), Lewis decided to enter in a small 25-foot boat.Following a series of accidents, including a dismasting shortly after leaving, he finished third (Francis Chichester came first), as described in his book "The Ship Would Not Travel Due West".He later decided to sail around the world with his second wife and two small daughters, and built the ocean cruising catamaran "Rehu Moana", for this purpose.