Called'the world's toughest yacht race', the BT Global Challenge lived up to its name in every respect. Sailing 30,000 miles around the world'the wrong way', the crews braved icebergs, snowstorms and hurricane force winds. Yet the fourteen identical yachts taking part were crewed by amateurs, many with little or no previous sailing experience. Alan Sears tells what led him to the challenge, and how he overcame his personal doubts and fears to take on the adventure of a lifetime. From the early days of training, to the gruelling routine as the race gets under way and the crew adjust to life on board, the awesome sights of the Southern Ocean, and the rapturous return home nine months later, this is one man's vivid account of what it was really like. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.