A SPECIAL school in Stroud is set to benefit from a county solicitor's epic voyage around the world.

Cheltenham-based lawyer Geoff Hand was among the adventurers who set off on the Global Challenge round the world yacht race on Sunday and his expedition will swell the coffers of St Rose's School by almost £10,000.

Mr Hand, who practised in Barnwood before trading his office for the ocean waves, has raised almost £30,000 in sponsorship which will be split between the Stroud school, Mencap and Save the Children.

He will be among the 17-strong crew of the Sony Vaio, one of 12 yachts taking part in the tough race that will take the sailors the 'wrong-way' around the world against prevailing winds and currents.

Each crew is made up of ordinary people from the business community skippered by a single professional sailor.

The ten-month trip started with a baptism of fire as the crews set off from Portsmouth and sailed straight into the mouth of a storm, tackling gale-force Atlantic winds head on.

The Global Challenge was set up by yachtsman Sir Chay Blyth, who lives in Box, to encourage ordinary people to do extraordinary things while providing a welcome boost for charities.

Princess Anne launched the race in her role as patron of Save the Children, one of the chairties which will benefit from the race.

To follow the progress of the race through the energy-sapping heat of the doldrums to the icy waves of the southern oceans see the website at www.challengebusiness.com