Ocean oarsman Simon Chalk, 32, is planning a solo circumnavigation in his new yacht starting from Teignmouth in November next year.

Simon, from Newton Abbot, is building the £1m, 68ft long, 45ft wide trimaran, called the Spirit of Teignmouth in which he hopes to smash Ellen MacArthur’s 71 day 14 hour record.

He was the first Briton and the youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean.