ADVENTURER Peter Robinson has returned safely from his round-the-world voyage, completing a unique triathlon to raise money for the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

He also joins 1,000 people who have circumnavigated the globe the wrong way against the prevailing winds and currents.

The 48-year-old from Henley Road, Marlow, signed up for the Global Challenge after his father David was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Dubbed the world's toughest yacht race, it pits 12 crews of 18 against each other and the elements.

He completed the 32,850 mile journey on July 16 in Portsmouth.

His team, "Me to You", sailed to Buenos Aires, Argentina, around Cape Horn to Wellington, New Zealand and then Sydney, Australia. They came seventh out of the 12 crews.

They crossed the fearsome southern ocean and rounded the Cape of Good Hope, heading north to Boston, USA, before returning home.

Mr Robinson said: "Sydney to Cape Town was the hardest stage. For 40 days we faced storms and freezing weather. It was very tough, physically and mentally. Sometimes, you wouldn't want to leave your sleeping bag, but you had to and contend with 70mph winds in your face."

Mr Robinson, who had never sailed before signing up, cracked two ribs when he was thrown across the lower deck.

He said: "When the mood dipped, I just kept thinking of Dad.

"Six weeks on the southern ocean is not impossible it's only temporary. Many people suffer for longer."

More than 500,000 people suffer from Alzheimer's in the UK, with numbers rising as people live longer.

Mr Robinson has raised nearly £25,000 from his amazing triathlon and intends to keep going.

He said: "It was beautifully peaceful too. I've seen the southern lights, shooting stars, comets, amazing sunrises, moon rises, hundreds of dolphins, whales and albatrosses.

"Like Alzheimer's, it was an extraordinary test of human endeavour. You'd wake to the same grey skies, horizon and people.

"But one day the weather changes, dolphins appear and the sun shines.

"It was awesome I wouldn't have missed it for anything."

The other two parts of the triathlon included him running the London Marathon in April 2004 and skydiving 15,000 feet in June 2004, before he set off for the yacht challenge in October.

Sam Clements