A BRADFORD on Avon man smashed the world record for sailing around Britain in a dinghy, measuring the quickest ever time.

Will Hodshon, 42, along with lifelong friend Richard Mitchell, 44, from Scotland battled through sleep deprivation, the cold and the wet as they completed their non-stop circumnavigation of the UK in just 15 days.

Their lack of rest resulted in the pair of sailors experiencing hallucinations, both auditory and visual.

Mr Hodshon, a marine geoscientist, told of the ‘very tough’ trip in ‘almost unbearable’ conditions.

He said: “My main emotion when we got back was relief.

“Most nights we were uncomfortably cold and we always had to wear wet clothes.

“We regularly went one or two days without sleep and suffered some serious deprivation symptoms.”

During their voyage, the sailors saw Minke whales, porpoises, seals, puffins and even a pod of dolphins that swam with the boat for three hours.

The circumnavigation was completed in aid of the Water Smart Foundation, a charity that aims to tackle plastics in the oceans, who have committed to raising £10,000 for charities RNLI and Surfers against Sewage.

Over £6,000 has been raised so far.

Mr Hodson’s wife Suzanne also put a lot of work into the project, running the website and social media, as the sailors spent six months refurbishing the 60-year-old dinghy, named Nipegegi.

She said: “I am exceedingly proud of my husband, he was focused on completing this challenge. For it to come together the way it did was just incredible.”

The pair left Salcombe harbour in Nipegegi on June 15.

Donations can be made online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=NipegegiRoundBritain&pageUrl=1.