Graham Dalton, skipper of HSBC-sponsored round-the-world yacht Hexagon, set sail yesterday from Plymouth, UK, for the United States and the start of the Around Alone race on 15 September. He expects to reach Newport, Rhode Island around 6 September.

Dalton and his shore team have spent the last two weeks organising repairs and maintenance to Hexagon in Hamble, UK, following a dramatic incident on 1 August, when the yacht was dismasted in the Atlantic. As a result he was forced to turn back, putting ashore briefly in Brest, France, before heading for Hamble.

Repairs have now been completed, with the help of a borrowed mast and sails from Ellen MacArthur’s yacht, Kingfisher, and Dalton is sailing for the United States in excellent spirits. “There’s been a great team effort over the last couple of weeks to get Hexagon ship-shape again. I’m now looking forward to arriving in the US and getting ready for the start of the race.” Hexagon will have her own spare mast and sails fitted on arrival in the US.

A HSBC spokesman said: “We’re delighted that Graham’s back on course after such a dramatic incident. Everyone’s worked at a terrific rate of knots to make sure he gets to the start of the race on time.”