The first husband and wife team to compete in a round-the-world yacht race have turned to a Bradford firm for advice.

McDonald Yachting, the team behind Neal and Lisa McDonald's bid for glory in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06, have been talking to chartered accountants and tax advisors Horwath Clark Whitehall.

They have been receiving tips from Bradford-based tax partner Peter Geldeard, who has ten years' experience of advising competitors in the tough global challenge.

He said specialist advice was vital for the teams, which often had a budget of about £10 million, if they were to navigate complicated tax laws.

"In preparation for a round-the-world race, the teams stop off for several weeks in various foreign countries and they have to be careful that they are not seen to be setting up a permanent base in these countries and end up paying tax," Mr Geldeard explained.

He said there were also special tax releases available for seafarers as well as varying tax rules in each country.

"There are a whole raft of regulations that teams need to be aware of," he added.

"These teams are often based in the south but Bradford has emerged as a bit of a yachting centre for the UK!"

Mr Geldeard, a partner at the firm, which is the UK's 14th biggest accountancy practice, first became involved in the issue when an existing client took up the sport and entered in the Americas Cup.

The McDonalds already have a wealth of experience in the sport and between them have competed in five Round-the-World races, three Americas Cups and six Trans-Atlantic record attempts.