Adrian Flanagan is about to set sail on the final leg of his challenge: to become the first solo yachtsman to complete a 'vertical' circumnavigation of the earth.

The last part of the voyage is a 1,600 mile stretch from Mehamn in northern Norway to The Royal Southern Yacht Club on England's south coast.

Adrian, 47, has already sailed more than 30,000 miles.Departing the south coast of England on 28th October 2005, he has become only the 14th lone yachtsman to sail west around Cape Horn against wind and current and believes he is the only single-handed yachtsman ever to have sailed Russia's Arctic coast.

'Although the distance back to the UK from Norway is not great, this will be a difficult final leg. Prevailing south-westerly winds means I will be beating into wind much of the time. There is a lot of shipping in the North Sea and then there are the attendant dangers of oil rigs. Sailing single-handed means sleep will be difficult and have to be taken in short snatches,' Adrian said.

During the course of his voyage around the world on Barrabas, a French designed 40-foot Trireme constructed entirely of stainless steel, Adrian has been shadowed by pirates, suffered two capsizes at Cape Horn and dislocated both his wrists. At one time and in severe storm force conditions, he was swept from the deck of his boat without a lifeline but managed to scramble back on board, cheating death by the narrowest of margins.

The Alpha Global Expedition is managed shoreside by Adrian's ex-wife, Louise. 'It has been a daunting challenge. There have been highs and lows. Now we are all looking forward to welcoming Adrian home to the Royal Southern Yacht Club,'she said.

Adrian had to break the Alpha Global Expedition twice. Delays in gaining permissions from the Russian government to enter their territorial waters meant Barrabas had to spend the winter of 2006/7 in Nome, Alaska. She spent the 2007/8 winter season in Norway after reaching the treacherous Norwegian Sea too late after passing across the top of the world from Alaska to Europe.

'It has been long and hard, but the pursuit of dreams is not an easy business. I've wanted to do this since I was a teenager,' Adrian said.
Yachting Monthly, 24 April 2008