BATTLING the blistering winds and churning seas of the Southern Ocean would be a test of endurance for the toughest of sailors.

But Mark Neilson faced 80ft swells and 60mph winds on a 5,000-mile race from South Africa to Western Australia with just four weeks of training under his belt.

The managing director of Swindon recruitment firm Aligra and professional boxing promoter Neilson boxing had no previous yachting experience before he signed up to sail for 27 days with a crew of amateur sailors in The Clipper Race.

He returned to dry land safe and sound two weeks ago.

He said: “Sometimes we were going upwind into the waves in the middle of nowhere with the whole front of the boat being lifted into the air and smashing back down over and over, it was relentless.

“Training off the Isle of Wight doesn’t really prepare you for it.

“There were times when I thought ‘Why am I doing this?’ and I didn’t enjoy every minute but I don’t regret doing it at all, it was amazing.

“You could see everything in the sky because there was nothing blocking the horizon - every sunrise, every sunset, all the beautiful stars - things you can’t take a photo of but stay in the memory forever.

“An industrial estate in Swindon doesn’t quite have the same view.”

Mark was born and bred in Broome Manor and now lives in Cirencester.

He said: “I’d thought about learning to sail because I wanted to take my family on holiday to the Greek islands and I’ve always liked a challenge.

“I didn’t realise how difficult it would be, it seems surreal now that I’m back at work.

“I made some good friends on that boat, we faced a lot of adversity together, my family are proud of me and I’m proud of myself, it’s quite an achievement.

“Being away from my wife Emma and three young children Alicia, Gracie and Sonny was hard.

“They saw me off in Cape Town and my wife saw me return in Australia, it was very emotional.

“I looked like a proper sea dog when I came back with a tan, a weathered face and a big beard, and I’d lost a stone even though I’d been eating 5,000 calories a day.

“I’d like to do more races after this - shorter ones.”