ADRIAN Flanagan, who is attempting to sail solo around the world, has suffered serious damage to his yacht.

Mr Flanagan, who set sail last October in the hope of becoming the first person to sail non-stop around the world via the polar regions, was due to meet a boat carrying extra supplies as he neared Hawaii.

But now it looks as though the 45-year-old yachtsman, who is undertaking the expedition partly in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign, will have to step ashore for the first time in six months and compromise the non-stop aspect of his journey.

Louise Flanagan, his ex-wife and expedition manager, said: "Yesterday morning, Adrian contacted his shore team to report a strange twanging sound from the mast. He discovered two critical damage points. There is no way this can be fixed at sea.

"What was to have been a supply drop in Hawaii will now be a race to lift out the mast and effect repairs."

Mrs Flanagan said that although such damage could be "potentially catastrophic", it would not be enough to stop the father of two from fulfilling his ultimate goal.

He was expected to arrive in Honolulu yesterday. Once repairs have been completed, he sail south of Japan before heading north to the Bering Straits.