Solo rower tests round-world boat

Oliver Hicks plans to take two years to row around the world

A 26-year-old adventurer aiming to row solo around the world is to put his craft through sea trials off Suffolk.

Oliver Hicks, from Oxfordshire, will test a boat made of glass fibre, foam and Kevlar - a material used in bulletproof vests.

Based at Woodbridge, he will check the 24ft craft's self-righting ability.

During the 15,000-mile voyage the boat will carry eight cameras to record wildlife. It was built at the Rowsell and Adkins boatyard in Exmouth, Devon.

Mr Hicks plans to take two years to travel along the line of 50 degrees south latitude, in what would be the longest-ever rowing boat voyage.

Overwinter plan

The journey, called the Virgin Global Row, will take him through some of the most dangerous seas on the planet.

A spokesman for the expedition said it was hoped the voyage would begin in New Zealand - exactly where has to be decided - early in December.

Mr Hicks is already the youngest person to row the Atlantic Ocean on his own, a feat he performed between the USA and Falmouth, Cornwall, in October 2005.

On the Southern Ocean voyage he plans to make landfall on South Georgia for a resupply and to overwinter for up to five months to minimise the risk of his craft's superstructure icing up.

Mr Hicks plans to send daily meteorological readings to his shore team, who will make them available to any interested parties.