GAZETTE & HERALD: URCHFONT adventurer Jon Duffield says he is prepared to remortgage his home to raise the final cash to take part in the Global Challenge, the most gruelling sailing race in the world.

Mr Duffield, from Foxley Fields, has been selected to sail aboard the 72-ft BG Spirit on the 33,000 mile race "the wrong way" round the world, against prevailing winds and currents.

He has already begun training for the gruelling race, which leaves from Portsmouth at the beginning of October.

Mr Duffield, 36, a systems engineer at Westinghouse Signals in Chippenham, is no stranger to high-octane sports. He has bungee-jumped all over the world and two years ago could be found slung under a helicopter in a Superman pose being flown over German countryside just for the fun of it.

He said: "If I ever work out why I do these things, I'll probably stop."

Mr Duffield has had to find £26,750 as his share of the cost of the expedition and is £21,000 towards his target.

As if his life in the next 18 months is not complicated enough, he is due to be married in April, to a Russian woman living in Prague who he met through the Internet.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Mr Duffield can call him on 07968 273251.