Lone sailor, Adrian Flanagan, is set to arrive in Hamble today 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.

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