Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail singlehanded, non-stop around the world, is making a return announcing that he will be competing in the forthcoming Velux 5 Oceans that starts in Bilbao in October this year.

For this 30,000-mile round the world race Sir Robin, 67, will be up against a field of over 10 of the globe’s top sailors competing in the Open 60 class aboard the Finot design previously campaigned by Giovanni Soldini. The boat formerly know as Fila was built for Soldini in 1997 who won the 1998-9 Around Alone race (now the 5 Oceans).

The idea said Sir Robin is to complete the race in 112 days taking 200 days his 1969 record aboard Suhaili. Chatting positively about the forthcoming race Sir Robin commented: “I have never seen 65 years as the line for compulsory retirement, life needs to be painted in bright colours, the brighter the better, and this race has become irresistible. It will certainly be a very different experience from the Golden Globe almost 40 years ago with these super fast, hi-tech boats and that is what makes it so attractive.”

The 30,000 mile, three-leg race is scheduled to begin in Bilbao on 22 October and will stop in Australia and the USA before returning to the Basque region approximately six months later.