GAZETTE & HERALD: CHIPPENHAM sailor Robin Hyde and the crew of BG Spirit have finished the second leg of the gruelling Global Challenge yacht race in third place.

BG Spirit arrived in Wellington, New Zealand last week and the crew will be checking over the boat and taking a well-earned break before setting off on the sprint to Sydney on February 6.

Mr Hyde one of 17 amateur crew on board the yacht says he is fulfilling a lifelong dream by taking part.

The 32-year-old production manager said he had been sailing since he was "knee high to a grasshopper".

Before he set off from Portsmouth in October he said: "I love it and always wanted to sail around the world. If I was to look back in 30 years time knowing that I hadn't even tried to realise my dream then I would have to give myself a good kick so here I am, raring to go."

Compelled to live life in the great outdoors by TV presenter David Attenborough, Mr Hyde said his idol inspired him to take part.

"I find nature and the outdoors fascinating," he said. "His programmes are partly the reason for me taking part in this race."

The Global Challenge, which is billed as the world's toughest yacht race, involves boats battling prevailing winds and currents to sail the wrong way around the world.

Mr Hyde, of West Kington, is on the same boat as fellow Wiltshire man Jon Duffield, who hails from near Devizes.

In the closest battle of the race so far, BG Spirit were just overhauled after leading the way with just 12 hours from the finish line. But days at sea between Buenos Aires and Wellington with nothing but mountainous waves and driving winds are all part of the fun.

"Yesterday and last night we dodged in and out of snow showers. It is bitterly cold, and this is summer in the southern ocean," he said.

The tempestuous southern ocean has produced many memorable moments for Mr Hyde including a novel way of cleaning the toilets.

"I have decided that the easiest way to clean the toilets in a 50ft sea such as that raging outside is to stick scouring sponges to your outer garments, cover yourself in blue toilet cleaner, close the curtain and simply allow the motion of the boat to do the rest of the work."

From Sydney they will sail to Cape Town, Boston and La Rochelle, finishing back in Portsmouth in July.