Adrian Flanagan was reunited with his family last night 11 months after he set off on his round-the-world voyage. Adrian, 45, left Hamble Point Marina in October last year in a bid to become the first singlehander to circumnavigate the globe non-stop via the polar regions.

An enforced stopover in Hawaii saw the end of his dreams, but he pushed on in his stainless steel sloop Barrabas hoping to make it across Russia’s Arctic coast before the ice closed in. Unfortunately engine troubles put paid to plan B and after putting in to Nome on Alaska’s west coast, Adrian decided to return home.

The Russian Arctic has never before been sailed single-handed, and only five fully crewed yachts have made the passage. Adrian intends to return to Alaska in June 2007 in order to complete the final phase of his ‘vertical’ circumnavigation.

Read about Adrian’s adventures at the following links:

11 September 06: Flanagan misses Russian window

25 July 06: Fear in the trenches

4 July 06: Near disaster for Adrian in Pacific

7 February 06: Polar bid sailor faces Cape Horn

3 November 05: Adrian Flanagan forced to take refuge in Falmouth

13 October 05:Alpha Global Expedition – departure date draws near