THIS is the view from the "office" that Hampshire businessman Alex Medhurst will have to put up with for the next ten months during his sabbatical!

The 41-year-old stepped aboard the 72ft yacht, called VAIO, at the weekend so he can help get everything ship-shape.

It will take him and 16 other crew on a 29,000-mile journey around the world against prevailing winds and currents in often brutal sea conditions.

Father-of-two Alex is a partner with Vail Williams, a commercial property consultancy that employs 35 people in Southampton and Portsmouth.

VAIO is one of 12 identical Challenge yachts that will be competing in Global Challenge.

The race, being started by the Princess Royal, starts on Sunday, October 3 from Portsmouth.

Alex has gone on the world's toughest yachting race, with its 70mph winds and 50ft waves, with the blessing of wife Maggie, daughter Molly, 12, and son Max, 9.

He said: "Plans are going well and crew morale is good. Our food for the second, fourth and fifth legs is packed and is now being transported to the various stopovers on route."

During the journey, the yachts will stop six times, at ports in South America, New Zealand, South Africa, North America and France.

The halfway stop at New Zealand will be for four weeks to carry out maintenance, before heading back to Portsmouth next July.

VAIO, currently moored at Gunwharf Quays at Portsmouth, was named after the laptop computer brand by eleventh-hour sponsor Sony.

Alex, from Sussex, who has been a partner at Vail Williams in the business space team since 1994, has chosen to help the official race charity Save the Children.

Colleagues will be tracking his progress with a dedicated Vail Williams' website link.