A ROUND the world yachtsman who gave up sailing after being diagnosed with arthritis is battling back to be ready for his first professional race.

Lee Gallacher is preparing for the Admiral's Cup next month in the Solent where he will be competing against expert sailors from around the world, including King Juan Carlos of Spain.

The 30-year-old Whiteley man has enjoyed success as an amateur, competing in the BT Global Challenge and other high-profile events.

Disaster struck last year when doctors diagnosed that he was suffering from arthritis and told him he must give up the sport he loves.

After a few months in an office job and with sailing slowly becoming a distant memory doctors realised they had made a mistake.

Lee was in fact suffering from ankylosing spondylitis - a form of arthritis that is helped by vigorous exercise, not exacerbated by it.

Now he has returned to the sport and decided to go professional.

"The Admiral's Cup is fantastic for me. It will be a perfect opportunity for me learn to from other professional sailors who will be taking part," said Lee.

"When I actually took the step to finish sailing and get a job I was quite distraught about it. My whole life revolved around sailing. Everyone I talked to was about sailing and everywhere I went was to do with it.

"I was over the moon when I found out I could continue. I could focus my efforts and do what I used to do and what I was good at again."

His team for the Admiral's Cup is packed full of Olympic and Paralympic medallists, America's cup racers and disabled sailors. Lee hopes it will send out a positive message to persevere.

And although sailing is still painful for him - often being reduced to crutches after a race - he is determined to take part in a transatlantic race next year.

"That's what I'm aiming for. It's a race from Plymouth to Rhode Island. I'm really looking forward to it," he said.