A SOUTHAMPTON sailor has made a smooth start to his groundbreaking voyage non-stop round the world in 80 days.
Solent University graduate Nick Houchin, 24, is one of five crew who last week set sail on board Musandam, a 75ft trimaran, from the Marina Bander Al Rowda in Oman.
They faced rough conditions, constant winds of 17 knots and intense heat on the Arabian Sea over the first few days. By Wednesday, the seventh day of their global adventure, the crew was making good progress and had crossed the equator into the doldrums.
The challenge is one of the projects launched by Oman Sail, a multi-million-pound scheme to promote sailing in the region.
The famous light winds and sudden squalls of the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone) is Musandam’s next major hurdle.
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