BOIL-in-the-bag chicken may not be everyone's favourite Christmas dinner but for intrepid round-the-world yachtsman Paul Covell, it was the best he could get.

The 61-year-old is taking part in the gruelling BT Challenge yacht race, and was midway between Argentina and New Zealand on Christmas Day.

Mr Covell, a member of the Gerrards Cross Sailing Association,joined fellow crew members in a midnight carol service then dressed up as Santa Claus.

The former marketing director, of Birkett Way, Chalfont St Giles, reported in his journal that the crew had rounded Cape Horn on December 20.

He added: "The temperature has continued to drop and we are now in our drysuits on deck together with full thermals. It takes a good 15 minutes to get kitted out."

His wife Gea went out to see him in Boston and is flying out to New Zealand next Sunday.

She said: "We are going to hire a camper van and drive around New Zealand. I can't wait.

"We were all a bit worried about this leg of the journey but now we know that Paul can do it.

"They chose him to be Father Christmas because he has managed to grow the biggest beard."

The couple have three children, Karen, 29, Yvonne, 32, and Mark, 33, who flew out to meet his father in Buenos Aires after the second leg of the journey.

The BT Challenge pits 12 identical 72ft yachts against each other in a 30,000 mile trip around the globe.

Mr Covell's team Quadstone finished the first leg of the ten-month event from Southampton to Boston in first place.

The team has now slipped back to second place overall after coming fifth in the second leg from Boston to Buenos Aires.

The team are scheduled to arrive in Wellington, New Zealand, on January 10 and will set sail for Sydney on February 18. Other stop-off points around the globe include Cape Town and La Rochelle before the race finishes in Southampton in June.