EMMA'S ON SAIL OF THE CENTURY

SCOTS yachtswoman Emma Richards has been preparing for the final leg of the world's longest yacht race - with a diet of red wine and steak!

The 28-year-old solo sailor is set to sail into the record books as the youngest competitor to take part in the gruelling Around Alone competition.

And Emma, who leaves Salvador today to complete her 29,000-mile voyage, vows that if she makes it to the finish in Rhode Island on May 5, she'll have the mother of all parties. "All my family will be there, even my 84-year-old great auntie."

She added: "When I was sailing the last leg I lived on couscous and pasta while all I craved was red wine and steak. So when I got to Brazil I had some - in fact, I've had plenty of it!"

The "scariest part" of the race for her so far was being badly bruised when struggling against big winds and waves to repair the mast of her 60ft yacht.

"But now I'm just looking foward to the party," said Emma from Helensburgh, currently lying in third place.

Copyright 2003 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.