AN OXFORD sailor has spoken of confronting scorching temperatures and monstrous waves on a round-the-world voyage.

Nicholas Mullineux, 27, spoke from Australia during a break in his 35,000 mile adventure.

The chartered surveyor from Summertown set off on the Clipper 2007-08 race from Liverpool in September.

Since then he has experienced huge ocean swells, tropical temperatures and dangerous storms.

Mr Mullineux has sailed from Liverpool to Brazil, from Brazil to South Africa and from South Africa to Australia.

His team have now dropped anchor in Fremantle, Western Australia, where they will take a well-earned two-week rest over the festive period.

And Mr Mullineux, of Wentworth Road, plans to make the most of his new surroundings - celebrating Christmas with a barbecue on the beach.

He said: "It's been fantastic. We are halfway round the world.

"We have got the three big legs under our belt.

"I had a bout of sea-sickness coming out of La Rochelle in France on the second day but that only lasted a day. Other than that it has been fine.

"There are very cramped living conditions but that doesn't really bother me."

He said: "The last leg one of the boats had a man overboard - that kept us all on our toes.

"There were also big waves and strong winds that knocked the boat totally flat. The worst thing was the temperature in The Doldrums. It was 45 degrees below deck and about 90 per cent humidity."

Next on the route is Singapore, followed by China, Hawaii, California, Jamaica, New York and Nova Scotia, before Mr Mullineux returns to the UK in July.

Despite almost four months at sea, Mr Mullineux said he hadn't missed many home comforts - just his fiancée Philippa.

Before he set sail in the 68ft racing yacht, Mr Mullineux completed a four-week training camp with other members of the crew.

There are 10 boats taking part in the race, each manned by up to 17 amateurs and one professional sailor.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston set up the Clipper round the world yacht race in 1996 to open up the sport to people from less privileged backgrounds.

Crews can sail as many or as few of the seven seperate legs of the race as they like.