Lone sailor, Adrian Flanagan, is set to arrive in Hamble next Wednesday having completed the first ever single-handed vertical circumnavigation of the globe, westwards via Cape Horn and the Russian Arctic.

Members of the Royal Southern Yacht Club are looking forward to welcoming Adrian back to the River Hamble, from where he set sail in October 2005 in his 11 metre sloop rigged yacht, Barrabas.

Adrian’s challenge to set the record for sailing round the world ‘over the top’ has tested the limits of his endurance. He became only the 14th solo yachtsman to successfully round Cape Horn westwards against wind and currents, recorded the first non-stop UK to Hawaii (18,000 nm) and is the only yachtsman to have ever sailed Russia’s Arctic Coast along the Northern Sea Route single-handed. Amongst many adventures, Adrian has been washed overboard, dislocated both wrists, suffered two knock-downs at Cape Horn and been tracked by pirates off Brazil. The Alpha Global Expedition is largely self-funded and managed shore-side by his ex-wife Louise and now, after more than two and a half years, this formidable and determined team can see the end in sight.

“We all greatly admire Adrian for his determination to set the record for this difficult circumnavigation”, said Mrs Annette Newton, Commodore of the Royal Southern Yacht Club. “He has encountered so many difficulties along the way, but his courage and tenacity have seen him through and he deserves all the applause I am sure he will receive on his return to Hamble.

“We are encouraging Royal Southern members, and also those of our neighbouring sailing clubs in Hamble and Warsash, to go out on the water or watch from the riverside to cheer Adrian in next Wednesday. Obviously we don’t know the timing at the moment, but we will be updating his progress as much as possible on our website www.royal-southern.co.uk and local radio should have regular updates on the day. We hope that many people will want to share in the excitement of Adrian’s return”.

The book of Adrian’s remarkable voyage, ‘Over The Top’ will be published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson on 9th October this year.