Former University of Otago physiotherapist and Otago Boys' High School pupil Stanley Paris (76) hopes to circumnavigate the planet from Bermuda solo in less than 150 days in his new yacht, Kiwi Spirit.
If successful, he will also be the first to achieve the record using only wind, water and electricity - the voyage will be totally ''green''.
Dr Paris, who now lives in Florida is in Dunedin this weekend for the Otago Boys' High School 150th reunion.
He said the voyage was possible at his age only because of his purpose-built yacht.
The 19.2m-long, with a retractable bowsprit, lithium ion phosphate batteries, wind and solar power generation and water regeneration, was designed by New Zealander Bruce Farr and constructed in the US by Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding Company, Maine.
''It's so well balanced - you can steer it with one finger.
''She sails like a dream.''
Dr Paris will begin the journey in November, attempting to beat the record set in 1986 by the late Dodge Morgan, of Massachusetts, US, then 54, on his cruising yacht American Promise.
''I'm itching to get going. I've been testing the boat and training for the voyage for the last 10 months. - it's been tiring at times.
''The boat is using advanced technology. If anything breaks down on the voyage, I'll have to fix it as best I can.
''It will be great to start the record attempt - it will be more relaxing once I get going.''
The journey is dangerous, but Dr Paris is no stranger to endurance adventures.
He has completed the world championship ironman triathlon in Hawaii and has twice swum the English Channel, a swim of at least 32km.
He has lived in Florida for the past four years, where he founded the University of St Augustine, which has campuses in Florida and California.
