A HAMPSHIRE yachtsman aiming to become the first disabled person to sail solo round Britain has admitted that the challenge has been "a lot harder than expected".

Quadriplegic yachtsman Geoff Holt was today due to set off on day seven of the groundbreaking 1,600-mile voyage, which has so far seen him successfully sail from Hamble to Brixham in Devon.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Geoff admitted that the challenge - dubbed his "personal Everest" - had been more difficult than he had expected.

The 40-year-old from Shedfield said: "It has definitely been as tough, if not tougher, than all of us were thinking it would be.

"That's not a bad thing at all - we knew it was never going to be easy. It just means it is more of a challenge. Everything is going brilliantly though - the boat is working well and all the team are fine."

Geoff and his team spent yesterday getting some much-needed rest and making essential repairs to his 15ft specially modified trimaran. The team has factored in a day of rest for every three days of sailing.

Geoff, who is paralysed from the chest down, said the stops were an essential part of the trip. He said: "It is really important that we have lay days to allow myself and the crew to get some rest and generally relax. It means that when we do set sail we can really go for it."

Geoff is largely weather dependent, with the tides and winds dictating when he can sail and how quickly he completes each trip. The longest leg of the challenge so far was from Bridport to Brixham, taking Geoff more than ten hours to complete.

Today he was due to set sail on the seventh leg of the voyage to Plymouth, weather permitting.