THE world's toughest yacht race got under way in the Solent yesterday, with the crews of 14 yachts taking part in the BT Global Challenge given an early harsh reminder of their task.

As the fleet of 67-ft steel yachts left Fort Gilkicker in the Solent, Britain, heading off on a 30,000-mile trip around the world the wrong way, they were battered by 60mph winds.

Coastguards issued a severe storm warning as the fleet crossed the start to begin the 10-month adventure, battling prevailing winds and tides to round the globe.

Welshman Merfyn Owen, skipper of the Global Teamwork, made the early running as the fleet, followed by an armada of 100 supporting craft, was lashed by 10-ft waves.

The yachts, all crewed by volunteers who have paid £15,750 each for the privilege of competing, are now heading for Rio de Janeiro. some 5,000 miles away, on the first leg of the contest.

British Admiral's Cup yachtsman Mike Golding, skipper of Group 4, and Richard Tudor, captain of Nuclear Electric, are favourites to battle for the leadership of the race, which is expected to end next June.

Nuclear Electric won the first ever race four years ago then called the British Steel Challenge in recognition of organiser Chay Blyth's single-handed circumnavigation of the world in 1971.

The fleet is expected to arrive in Brazil in late October. From there, it will sail on a 7,000-mile course to Wellington, New Zealand.

The crews will then sail 1,250 miles to Sydney, Australia, before another 6,300-mile marathon, this time to Cape Town, South Africa.

From South Africa, the yachts head 7,000 miles to Boston - and then home, a mere 3,000 miles across the Atlantic hack to Southampton next June.