FORMER marketing director Paul Covell has set off on a year-long round-the-world yacht race.

FORMER marketing director Paul Covell has set off on a year-long round-the-world yacht race.

Mr Covell, 61, of Birkett Way, Chalfont St Giles, left Southampton on board the yacht Quadstone on Sunday.

He is taking part in the BT Challenge which pits 12 identical 72ft yachts against each other in a 30,000-mile trip around the globe.

His wife, Gea, told of the tender farewell. She said 'We went down to Southampton on Friday night and on Saturday we went out for a meal with Paul and our three children.

'I found it very difficult seeing him walk off with his small bag in the fog on Sunday morning. I wondered if I will ever see him again.'

Mrs Covell plans to fly out to see her husband on September 28 in Boston when the yachts complete the first leg of their journey.

His three children, Mark, 33, Yvonne, 32 and Karen, 29, will be flying to visit their father in various stopover points around the world.

Mr Covell and four more of the crew have dyed their hair orange in order to fit in with the orange yacht and uniforms of the Quadrant team.

Mr Covell took early retirement from his position as marketing director at Sun Chemical Ltd in Watford on August 1 and has no plans to return to work.

The 216 competitors left with the cheers of thousands of spectators ringing in their ears as friends, family and members of the public saw them off from Ocean Village at Southampton Harbour.

The boats set off at 12.05pm and Mr Covell's team, Quadstone, were immediately embroiled in controversy when their skipper refused to give way to another yacht.

After Boston the yachts will stop at Buenos Aires, Wellington, Sydney, Cape Town and La Rochelle with a rest period of between two and six weeks at each stopover.

Coverage of the race is mainly confined to the internet at www.btchallenge.com. There will also be limited coverage on television with the next programme planned for October 15.