Two of Hamble's most experienced yachtsmen will be risking their lives next year in pursuit of yachting's biggest prize, The Race.

Neal MacDonald and Ed Danby, both seasoned sailors with thousands of miles of ocean yacht racing behind them, have joined Club Med, the French-built 110ft catamaran which is one of seven giant race boats set to take part in the no holds barred round-the-world race.

As a member of Sir Peter Blake's crew on Enza, Danby is used to travelling round the world at high speed on two hulls but The Race, which starts in Barcelona on New Year's Eve and finishes in Marseilles around 65 days later, will set new records in multihull speeds.

"We thought we were fast on Enza but this is around 20 per cent quicker - it is an amazing boat," said Danby, who left Mike Golding's Team Group 4 earlier this year to join Grant Dalton and the Club Med project.

Already Club Med has completed 626 miles in a 24-hour period and, while the trials continue in Vilamoura, Portugal, following the recent repairs to the port bow and refit, the 13-strong crew aim to make another attempt on the Transatlantic record.

Recently in Southampton for a promotional visit, Club Med reached a stunning 32 knots in moderate winds across the Solent. In strong winds, speeds could top 40 knots, making her the fastest sailboat in the world.

"We keep being asked if we will be scared but, if you are scared on a boat like this, you shouldn't be here," said boat manager Danby.

"This may be seen by some as a dangerous project but crossing Hamble Lane in rush hour can be dangerous. If we hit something or if we pitch pole, we'll have problems but our main aim is to get round the world in one piece. The boat that does that will win The Race."

MacDonald, 37, a former crew member on Lawrie Smith's W60 Silk Cut and one of the country's leading yachtsmen has also been selected to help Dalton beat off the competition, who include Pete Goss in Team Philips and Tony Bullimore in the former Enza catamaran.

Playstation, owned and sailed by ballooning billionaire Steve Fossett, is currently at Green Marine in Lymington having an extra section added to her midships. She is expected to leave in November to complete final trials before heading off to Barcelona.