A ROYAL AIR FORCE reserve officer from Carterton is on the trip of a lifetime as he takes part in a leg of a round-the-world yacht expedition.

Flight Lieutenant Jez Preedy, 54, has been picked to take part in the Exercise Transglobe expedition, which gives airmen, soldiers and sailors an opportunity to sail the world on two yachts.

The expedition started from Gosport, Hampshire, in July and will sail 35,000 nautical miles stopping at Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Sydney and other destinations.

A total of 392 women and men, from both the reserve and regular services, will take part during the 13 legs of the journey until it finishes back in Gosport in August.

Mr Preedy will be crewing Adventure of Hornet during a leg of the journey starting in New York and ending in Halifax, Canada where they hand over to the next crew.

The expedition has already crossed the equator twice and rounded Cape Horn which is widely regarded as one of the major challenges in world yachting.

Mr Preedy, who joined the RAF reserve in 1981, said: "I love sailing and travel and enjoy a good challenge."

He is now based at RAF Brize Norton where he works as an air traffic controller.

Nick Trundle, who is in charge of the venture, said: "Exercise Transglobe will, in the true spirit of service adventure training, seriously challenge all who take part.

"It has been two years in the planning and we are all delighted that it is going well.

"The two yachts are in excellent shape and I believe all those who take part will have experiences and challenges that develop their ability to do their military jobs."