David Pugh and Major Malhi, both from the Midlands, were members of BP Explorer ocean racing team taking part in the 2004/05 Global Challenge.

By late January 2005, the crew had arrived in Wellington, New Zealand where they were to spend a few weeks making repairs to the boat before setting off on the next leg to Sydney, Australia.

Mr Pugh, a builder from Wolverhampton, from Mr Malhi, a retired company director, from Stirchley, Telford, were also celebrating their team earning second place after the most dangerous leg of the contest.

Twelve yachts originally set off from Portsmouth in October 2004, travelled more than 6,000 miles to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

From South America, the crews spent 34 days at sea before sailing safely into harbour in Wellington.

After the third leg to Australia, the crews were to race to Cape Town, Boston and La Rochelle before making their way back to Portsmouth.

Mr Pugh had been inspired to take on the challenge after watching his wife Anne successfully complete it four years earlier on board the winning yacht LG Flatron.

Reflecting on the second leg of the race, he told the Star: “All I remember from the Southern Ocean is the cold. Getting out of my bunk and going up on deck where it was absolutely freezing was difficult sometimes.”

“Going round Cape Horn was a real achievement though, as you think to yourself: I’m doing something that not many people have achieved,” he added.