Omani yachtsman starts epic voyage

Jan 11 - Omani Yachtsman sets off on a round the world trip - the first Omani to attempt a circumnavigation of the world.

Mohsin al Busaidi said his emotional farewell to dozens of relatives and friends at the Marina docks in the capital Muscat before leaving for more then 40,000 kilometres long route. He'll sail through the Indian Ocean, below Australia, through New Zealand's two major islands, and then onto the south pacific before passing the southern tip of South America and finally around South Africa and sailing back up the Indian ocean to return to Muscat.

Busaidi underwent an intense selection process in the Omani desert to win one of the five places on the crew. He was selected for the epic voyage after he helped bring the 30 meter-high boat Musandam from Britain in August.

The boat, one of the world's most famous, was used by British sailor Ellen MacArthur as she set a round-the-world speed record in 2005.

NOTE: Unvoiced video.