Southampton is set to miss out as a stopover port in one of the leading single-handed round the world events due to take place next year.
Torbay has been proposed as the UK stopover in the Around Alone Race 2002 which will leave Newport Rhode Island and head across the Atlantic to Europe.
Organisers Clipper Ventures, which also runs the Times Clipper Race, has confirmed the start date for the Around Alone as September 15 with the race due to be completed by March 2003. Stopovers, which have yet to be confirmed are Torbay, Cape Town, New Zealand - either Wellington or Auckland - Salvador and back to Newport.
Alex Bennett, who recently won the Open 50 class of the Transat Jacques Vabre, has confirmed his entry in the race and several other of England's leading solo sailors are expected to announce over the next few months.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article