Adventurer Sarah Aynesworth has won a place in a pioneering race for seafarers the world over.

Sarah, 21, is to join the crew of the vessel Cable & Wireless about to set off to circumnavigate the globe in less than 80 days - the target set by author Jules Verne in his classic novel.

She was chosen for the world record attempt after a tough selection process involving 300 other would-be sailors from the UK and abroad.

Next month she will be joining the other six novices and a crew of five professionals for the voyage of a lifetime.

She is a keen adventurer and has already completed two expeditions, one to China and Tibet and the other to Pakistan, where she worked in a leprosy centre.

Sarah, of Burnsall, near Skipton, is currently studying Time-Based Media at the University of the West of England in Bristol.

"I know it is going to be tough going at times, but I will have a chance to learn about navigation, communications as well as being part of a great challenge," she said.

The powered boat, which is 115ft long, will mostly follow an equatorial route on its 26,000 mile journey, passing through 15 different ports.

Project leader Jock Wishart, veteran of numerous adventures including rowing the Atlantic, said: "The current record stands at 83 days, nine hours and 54 minutes held since 1960 by the nuclear submarine USS Triton."

He said the Cable & Wireless crew had started a rigorous training and fitness programme - including an endurance trek in Snowdonia in Wales, sea survival and VHF radio training.

It leaves Gibraltar on April 19.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.