LYMINGTON woman Hannah White will try again to break the speed record for sailing around the United Kingdom.

The 21-year-old, pictured right, first attempted the record in 2003, starting from The Solent, but had to abort her journey within a few days due to storms and mechanical failure.

Now, on the eve of her busiest year ever - which includes the single-handed trans-atlantic race (STAR) from England to the USA in May, Cowes Week and The Fastnet - Hannah is eager to try for the record again.

"It is something I definitely want to do," she explained. "It could be this year - it depends on weather windows, finances and other commitments.

"But if I don't do it this year, I'd definitely like to try it again."

Hannah only took up sailing when she was 14 after a friend introduced her to the sport while studying at The Godolphin School in Salisbury.

In just two months time she will be the youngest entrant and the only female in her Open 40 class in the STAR race, which costs £2,000 just to enter and at almost 3,000 miles will be five times longer than any single-handed event Hannah has ever competed in.

Click on the link for 'sailing' and take a look at more sailing stories at www.sailsolent.co.uk