The trials and triumph of Alan Paris and other Around Alone sailors have been immortalised on film.

The first anniversary of the start of Around Alone 2002 has been heralded with the launch of Lonely Planet, the official documentary of the eight-month race which concluded in May.

"Lonely Planet tells the compelling stories of the 13 intrepid adventurers - including one woman - as they compete in the Around Alone 2002-03 solo, round-the-world yacht race, the longest ever race for an individual in any sport," said the latest Around Alone newsletter.

"You will get to know a band of competitors who, in the course of their solo circumnavigation, become closer than brothers.

"Live through their personal triumphs and disasters on the high seas as their every exploit and emotion is exposed on film, mostly recorded by the skippers themselves on board the yachts as they discover their own ultimate desires and fears along the life-changing journey around the globe."

The group includes a diabetic and an ex-Mountie, both from Canada, a text-book salesman and an ex-pilot from America, a French human rights campaigner, an Italian poet, a Japanese adventurer, the lone female and youngest skipper (Britain) and Paris, a former hotel manager from Bermuda.

The documentary also pays tribute to the late Simone Bianchetti, the Italian sailor who died two months after finishing third in the race.

As the successful sailors applaud the documentary's completion, one of them does so with more than a tinge of poignancy.

American Tim Kent survived the arduous voyage only to see his boat Everest Horizontal battered by Hurricane Fabian as it roared through Bermuda two weeks ago.

Kent finished the Around Alone and then entered another race, the Bermuda 1-2, in which Everest Horizontal capsized about 115 miles off Bermuda on the return leg. He was rescued by local sailors and recovered his vessel later.

However, the boat's rig and electronics were destroyed and Kent left her moored off Ordnance Island in St. George's as he sought funding for repairs.

"Hurricane Fabian swept over Bermuda, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake - and Everest Horizontal was not spared.

"At the height of the storm, her mooring lines parted and she was driven onto the rocks in St. George's Harbour.

"At the lowest point of the Around Alone Race, I never imagined we would find ourselves in this sad shape," said Kent, who arrives on the Island soon to prepare for the boat's refit.