IT was around the world in 300 days for a former Teignmouth lifeboat helmsman.

Chris Connell sailed about 39,000 miles in a ocean-going yacht, enduring every kind of weather from freezing cold to tropical heatwaves.

He also faced storms and massive waves that he admitted were 'scary', but still described it as the 'voyage of a lifetime'.

Chris, from Shaldon, has always loved the sea, and when offered the chance to crew on one of the Clipper Round The World Race yachts, had a big decision to make.

'It would cost me a lot of money to take part, and also mean giving up the building business I had built up over several years.

'I was unsure what to do for some time, but the lure of the sea and sailing in such a prestigious event on a super yacht, won out.'

He was one of 18 crew on Qingdao, a £1million 68-footer, named after the sponsoring Chinese city, which hosted the sailing events in the 2008 Olympics.

Ten boats took part, and all the crew stopped off at famous and exotic ports and in 13 different countries

FULL STORY IN OUR ONLINE EDITION