ADVENTUROUS Martin Jourdan has returned home a world record breaker after sailing round the globe in less than 80 days.

The former chairman of Cornwell Parker plc, High Wycombe, was part of the British Cable and Wireless Adventurer crew who arrived in Gibraltar at noon last Friday, after completing the mammoth trip in just 74 days, 20 hours and 58 minutes.

But Martin, who had limited sailing experience before the voyage, admitted on his return home that he never expected to be picked as part of the record-breaking team.

He said:"This time last year I spotted an article about the trip and called the number.

"If I thought at that time I had any likelihood of being selected I wouldn't have phoned!"

Martin, 57, and the rest of the crew had to overcome severe problems to beat the former world record of 83 days.

He said: "I think we were all fairly confident we would break the record but there were difficult times. Coming back across the Atlantic we had a lot of mechanical problems."

Late last Tuesday the boat, which had visited 12 countries in just over two months, had to make a six-hour stop mid-Atlantic after the crew noticed the vessel's starboard shaft bearing overheating.

But the months of hardship, battling against the elements paid off when the crew were given a heroes' welcome at the end of their long voyage.

Martin said: "It was a fantastic team effort. Coming into Gibraltar was a memorable moment.

"There was a tug blowing its horn, fire hoses going off and we had lots of champagne on board which was going over everybody."

Back at home in Long Crendon on Sunday, Martin was relaxing in the garden with his wife Val and said he had no more adventures planned for the immediate future.

"I will just be picking up the threads here now," he said.

Peter Halstead, 36, of Rock Road, Wooburn Green, was part of the original crew but withdrew after falling ill.

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