This is no easy task that I have set myself as only 4 Australians have achieved this same goal.

Jon Sanders completed a triple non-stop circumnavigation (what an effort!) in the early 80's and was followed up by Kay Cottee, who became the first woman in the world to circle the globe non-stop when she sailed back into Sydney Harbour in 1988.

David Dicks from Western Australia successfully climbed his personal "Everest" in approximately 1996 when he became the youngest person in the world to circumnavigate followed by Jesse Martin who arrived back in Melbourne late October, 1999.

I am not aiming for any particular record.

My plan is to follow the course as taken by Kay Cottee which is generally as follows:-

• Depart Newcastle Harbour October 2000
• Pass to the south of New Zealand
• Pass to the south of Cape Horn
• Head north east to the Tristan Da Cunha Islands
• From there I head north to St.Helena Island
• Then north west to Ascension Island
• Round St.Pedro and St.Paul Rocks which are located just north of the Equator
• Head south east to the Tristan Da Cunha Islands again
• Pass to the south of South Africa
• Head east through the Southern Ocean
• Pass south of Tasmania
• Arrive Newcastle Harbour approximately March/April 2001

I estimate that it will take me around 180 days to cover the 22,000 nautical miles which equates to an average speed of 5.09 knots.

For the uninitiated this means that I expect to move along at about 130 nautical miles (215 kilometres) every 24 hours.

When I visualise the journey I see the section from the start to the bottom of New Zealand as being a settling in period with one or two "beltings".

I imagine the run across to the "Horn" will be very tough with big seas, strong winds and the cold being the major obstacles.

The run up to the Equator will hopefully see conditions improve as I head Further North and should provide some beautiful night sailing.

The track down to the Cape of Good Hope will hopefully be enjoyable but tinged with a little apprehension as I get closer to the Legend that is the Southern Ocean.

Across the "bottom" I anticipate quite a few more "average days" before rounding the southern most tip of Tasmania, leaving only a Sydney to Hobart race (in reverse) to go.

When I leave I must have all of my food on board to last me the 180 days plus reserves. Imagine going to the supermarket tomorrow and buying everything you are going to eat for the next 6 months!

I also must have on board all the spare bit's and pieces to keep all the equipment perational in some of the most extreme conditions on this planet.

Solo Globe Challenger is a Cole 43 designed in the late 1960's by well known Australian Peter Cole.

Construction of the first boats took place in1970/71 and ceased around the time that Solo Globe Challenger was launched in 1984 with around 20-25 boats having been built.

In the early 80's, Australian Boating Magazine reported "Originally designed to the old RORC rule, the very beautiful Cole 43 is one of Australia's fastest offshore racing yachts with a track record stretching over a decade of successes in almost every recognised Australian offshore classic. And it is still a wickedly fast near viceless yacht with a magnificent standard of finish, a brand new tri-cabin layout and a slightly taller rig."