ISLE of Wight solo skipper Chris Stanmore-Major has already started making preparations for the second leg of a gruelling round the world yacht race.

The 33-year-old from Cowes sailed into Cape Town on Monday after 36 days and 44 minutes alone at sea on the first leg of the 30,000 nautical mile Velux 5 Oceans which started in La Rochelle, France.

After just a few days’ rest, work has now begun to prepare Stanmore-Major’s 60ft yacht Spartan for the next leg of the race to Wellington in New Zealand, starting in just over two weeks.

Spartan’s mast is due to be lifted off the boat to repair damage caused to it in the final few days of the leg, when Stanmore-Major was battered by 50-knot winds.

Stanmore-Major sailed 7,849 nautical miles on Spartan at an average speed of 9.08 knots on the challenging solo sprint from La Rochelle. It was a huge accomplishment for Stanmore-Major, an experienced ocean yachtsman but a newcomer to single-handed ocean racing.

“I’m pretty jubilant to be here,” said Chris, as he sat at the North Wharf at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront where he was welcomed in by his fellow skippers Brad Van Liew, Zbigniew Gutkowski and Derek Hatfield.

“Sailing 7,800 nautical miles on your own in the first leg of the Felux 5 Oceans is a pretty big challenge and it’s one I’ve now completed. There have been some challenges but we – me and Spartan – have made our way through them. I knew it was going to be a learning curve and it was.

“I made lots of mistakes but I managed to come back from them and continue on. It’s been hugely challenging but the boat’s lasted pretty well. I think she can be quicker but I’ve got to be a bit smarter. I’m just very pleased to be in.”

Previous to the Velux 5 Oceans Chris skippered a 68ft yacht with a crew of 15 amatuer sailors in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

The second leg of the race starts from Cape Town on December 12.