Arthritic sailor Alex Ransby is planning a circumnavigation in a 40 ft yacht in a personal challenge to spite his condition.

Ransby, 27, from Chichester, West Sussex has suffered from juvenile onset chronic arthirits from his teenage years and wants to raise the profile of his 40,000 fellow sufferers.

His boat Hip Joint is under construction at Bosham, West Sussex and should be ready for launch in February 2002.