This is a list of intrepid sailors who hold official records for sailing single handed, non-stop and  unassisted around the world.
​Only initial and current records are listed

Sir Robin Knox-Johnstone

Sir Robin Knox-Johnstone became the first person to complete a solo, non stop, circumnavigation of the world on 22 April 1969 after taking part in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race
He later went on to win many awards and was created a Knight Bachelor in 1995 in recognition of his contributions to the sport of sailing.

Sir Chay Blyth

Chay Blyth became the first person to complete a a Solo Westbound circumnavigation in 1972 aboard the 59 foot steel yacht "Brittish Steel"
He competed with Sir Robin in the Gloden Globe Race but had to retire near the cape of Good Hope.
Like Sir Robyn he won many awards throughout his career.
In 1997 was created a Knight Bachelor for his services to sailing

Kay Cottee AO

In 1988 Kay Cottee became the first woman to complete  an Eastbound, singlehanded , non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation  of the world aboard her  her 37 feet (11 m) yacht Blackmores First Lady. ​The voyage took 189 days.
Afterwards she embarked on an "18-month national schools tour, speaking to over 40,000 senior high school students, imparting the message you can achieve your dreams if you work steadily towards them."  Wikipedia

Jesse Martin

Although the category is discontinued now, Jesse Martin holds the record as the youngest person to complete a Single Handed, Unassisted, Non stop Around the World voyage.
He completed the voyage of 328 days  in 1999 aboard his S and S 34 Lionheart

​After his record was set the WSSRC determined to discontinue all categories of sailing records based on human conditions. For example age or disabilities .

Dame Ellen Mcarthur

Dame Ellen set the record as the fastest women to sail Eastbound. Single Handed Around the World in aboard Kingfisher in 2001
Her voyage took 94 days 4 hours 25 minutes and 40 seconds.
In 2004 she became the fastest person to circumnavigate the globe eastbound and single-handed  on board the 75ft trimaran B&Q. The voyage took 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes, 33 seconds 
She was knighted by the Queen in 2005 and has received the Legion d'Honneur from French President, Nicolas Sarkozy 

Francis Joyen

Francis Joyen holds the record for the fastest Eastbound, Single Handed Around the World Voyage aboard IDEC a 98 foot trimaran.
The record, set in 2007, took 57 days 13 hours 34 minutes and 6 seconds.
His earlier record set in 2004 of 72 days 22 hours and 54 minutes and 22 seconds was broken in 2005 by Ellen Macarthur  by 1 day, 8 hours, 35 minutes, 49 seconds.
His 2007 beat Ellen's previous record by nearly 2 weeks

Francois Garbart

Holds the record for a monohull in the 60 foot class completing a single handed RTW voyage in 78 days 2 hours and 40 seconds

Dee Cafari

In 2006 Dee Cafari holds the record as the first and fastest women to sail Westbound Single Handed Around the World  in Aviva her 72 foot yacht.
Her voyage took 178 days 3 hours 5 minutes and 34 seconds

Jean Luc Van Den Heede

Holds the record for a Westbound RTW Single Handed and Crewed set aboard Adrien an 85 foot monohull

122d 14h 3m 49s

Guo Chuan

Guo Chuan sailed his yacht "Quing Dao" into the record books in 2013 to become the fastest Eastbound Single Handed Around the World voyage in the 40 foot class. 
His voyage took 137 days  20 hours  1 minute and   57seconds