INQUIRER Sports

LONDON -- A British yachtsman became the first man to sail around the world via the Arctic north of Russia Wednesday.

Adrian Flanagan, 47, set off on his 30,000 mile (48,000 kilometer) trip in October 2005 and returned to Hample, Hampshire, southern England earlier.

The Kenyan-born adventurer said it was a "tremendous relief" to have finished but added that there was "not a prayer" he would do it again because of the dangers it entailed.

Incidents en route included being followed by pirates in Brazil and being swept overboard from his 38-foot (11.6-meter) stainless steel sloop Barrabas just five days into the challenge.

Flanagan received help from Russian billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich, owner of Champions League finalists Chelsea, who helped him obtain permission to sail through the Russian Arctic.