AN adventure of a lifetime awaits a 24-year-old West Devon man this summer, as he prepares to take part in this year's Fastnet Race.

Gary Radford, from Nymet Rowland, is a keen dinghy sailor who regularly sails at Roadford Reservoir.

But this August he will be taking to bigger craft as he joins the crew of the 58ft, 18-ton racing yacht Maiden, which took sailor Tracey Edwards and her all-female crew to victory in the 1990 Whitbread Round the World Race.

Gary said: 'This is the greatest adventure of my life. I have sailed in the Caribbean and spent a lot of time at Roadford and it is my ambition to board a vessel and to just keep sailing!'

Any other keen sailors who reckon they have what it takes to crew in the gruelling Fastnet Race should contact the Tall Ships people for further details on 01837 840919.