An intrepid cyclist from Ilkley is enjoying the cross-continental leg of his globe-trotting adventure - courtesy of a world famous yacht race.

Alastair Humphreys has just embarked on a three week voyage across the South Atlantic as part of his cycle-the-world fund-raising challenge.

The 25-year-old has set sail from Cape Town, in South Africa, for Brazil after spending the last 16 months cycling through Europe, the Middle East and the length of Africa.

And he is travelling in swift style after hitching a lift with Maiden, one of the yachts

competing in the 2003 Cape to Rio race.

The voyage represents the latest stage in an action-packed adventure which started with Alastair leaving home back in September, 2001.

Since then he has been skiing in the Lebanon, been stoned by Ethiopian children, and even forced to borrow a teaspoon from the British Embassy in Amman to carry out emergency bike repairs.

Keeping family, friends and supporters up to date through his website, www.roundtheworldbybike.com, Alastair headed off for the Americas with a typically upbeat statement.

"If I can make it through Africa I can make it through anything!"

The zoology graduate and teacher is also raising money for the Hope and Homes for Children charity during his three year expedition.

Ilkley Soroptomists, of which his mother Jenny is club secretary, is also supporting the charity back in Britain.

Referring to her son's Atlantic crossing, Mrs Humphreys, who ran a confectionery store in Leeds Road until recently, said: "Rather him than me! But there should be some tales to tell when he gets back.

"Alastair keeps in contact whenever he is able to get onto the Internet. This whole trip is one of those things which if you don't do when you're his age you'll never do.

"Before he left he gave a talk to the Ilkley Soroptomists and Dale Chappell, the president, kindly said she would support Hope and Homes as her charity this year."

Ilkley Soroptomists' next fund-raising event for the cause will be a Medieval Banquet held at the Queen's Hall in Burley-in-Wharfedale on Saturday, March 22.

Alastair, meanwhile, will be using his three week voyage to regain his strength for the daunting next stage of his route.

That will see him traversing the Americas, covering the 25,000 kilometres from Ushuia, the world's most southern city, up to the icy wastes of Alaska.

Anyone who wants to know more about his trip, or the work of Hope and Homes for Children, can find details on the website.