Stanley Paris has announced he will make another attempt at sailing solo around the globe, starting in November.
The former Dunedin resident had hoped to become the oldest and fastest person to sail solo around the world from Bermuda, by breaking the record set in 1986 by the late Dodge Morgan, who did it in 150 days, aged 54.
Dr Paris (76) was forced to pull out of his attempt to break that record in January when equipment on his yacht Kiwi Spirit began to fail in the South Atlantic Ocean.
There were concerns about the integrity of the rigging system on the yacht, and ultimately Dr Paris' safety, as he prepared to enter the Southern Ocean.
At the time, he was adamant there would be no second attempt.
But he now appears to have changed his mind.
He has been in extensive meetings with sail makers, designers, builders and others during the past month to determine the best course of action that would restore his confidence in the boat and its fittings.
''There is no point in starting again if I cannot have a boat in which I have complete confidence, and which has been adapted in every way possible for a solo sailor of my age and abilities.''
Dr Paris said Kiwi Spirit had not only been ''made whole again'', but made stronger, and he was more confident about setting forth again.
''Should I fail a second time, and the odds are of course high for many reasons, in addition to breakages, know that there will not be a third try as there is a limit to my wife Catherine's tolerance for such things.''
Records up for grabs
• To be the first to sail from St Augustine, solo, non-stop and non-assisted around the world.
• To break the existing circumnavigation record of 150 days from Bermuda.
• To be the first to do it environmentally friendly.
• To be the oldest to do it solo.
