THE disabled Hampshire yachtsman trying to become the first disabled man to sail around Britain is back on the water after a week of being frustrated by weather.

High winds and rough seas had forced Geoff Holt to spend seven days stuck in Devon watching the waves rather than sailing them.

But yesterday, on day 12 of the 1,600-mile voyage he has dubbed his "personal Everest", the 40-year-old Shedfield man finally got back in his specially-converted trimaran and on to the water.

Having spent a week stuck in Brixham, Geoff was last night enjoying the new surroundings of Salcombe.

Speaking before setting off yesterday, he said: "It's hard to believe we've been in Brixham for a week now, it seems more like a month.

"For the past seven nights we've gone to bed in expectation of leaving the following day, but we've awoken to the disappointment of strong winds, rain, and the utter frustration of spending another day just waiting."

If the weather stays on his side, Geoff hopes to sail to Plymouth before Monday.