A WANTAGE man will spend next Christmas all at sea following a deep desire to tackle the stormy Southern Ocean in a round-the-world yacht race.

Jon Gibbard, 23, an environmental consultant at AEA Energy at Harwell who has sailed since he was a child, decided to take the plunge after spotting an advertisement for the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race on the London Underground.

Mr Gibbard, who developed his love of the sea as a child living in West Sussex, will take part in the second and third legs of the race.

He will set off from Brazil as part of a crew of people from all walks of life, heading across the Atlantic to South Africa.

The race is then likely to follow last year's route to Australia.

Mr Gibbard said: "I would recommend this to anyone with a lot of enthusiasm and commitment, regardless of sailing experience.

"If you've got drive and spirit, then you can do it."

Anyone keen to take part in what is the world's longest ocean race can still apply.

All the competitors receive intensive training before they board the 68ft yachts.

Mr Gibbard said: "I will miss my family, even more so the hot showers! But this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"I've done some training, which was an amazing experience in itself. It's a sort of 'gap year' for me - an amazing challenge and will give me something to remember for the rest of my life."

The Clipper race was established a decade ago by yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who is taking part in the Velux 5 Oceans event.

He said: "Jon will be joining more than 1,400 people who have made the Clipper experience a turning point in their lives. We want people to finish the race thinking that it's the best thing they have ever done."

Anyone interested can email David Cusworth at d.cusworth@clipper-ventures.com