A British adventurer has taken on a madcap challenge: to sail solo and totally unassisted round the Antarctic continent.

His initial aim is to become the first person ever to achieve this feat; also, like many other adventurers, his thoughts are based on science. Along the course he will take, his intention is to gather as much information as possible about the Southern Ocean on behalf of the British Meteorological Office, the British Antarctic Survey, the UK Hydrographic Office, the Oceanography Society and the Department of Oceanography at the University of Southampton. This data will be used for studying global warming more closely.

Setting sail in a boat built specially by Rossiter Yachts Ltd (Christchurch, Dorset), the adventurer will take 1600 kg of equipment and stores with him.

Scheduled departure: from the Falkland Islands, around mid-December 2005