Debra Searle's voyage will take her about five months

Debra Searle, who was formerly Debra Veal, will be the first woman to achieve the feat of sailing against the prevailing winds if she succeeds.

The 28,000-mile (45,000km) voyage from east to west is expected to last more than 150 days.

Ms Searle, 30, from Plymouth, plans to start in October 2006.

'Alarm bells'

She shot to fame in 2002 when she set out with her husband, Andrew, in a 3,000-mile double-handed rowing race across the Atlantic.

He soon developed an uncontrollable fear of the ocean, leaving her to continue alone or face the option of giving up.

She carried on and became only the fourth women in history ever to have rowed an ocean solo. But her marriage did not last and the couple divorced.

Ms Searle already has sponsorship with print company Pindar, which has supplied a boat for her. She will be supported by Ellen MacArthur's company, Offshore Challenges, which will manage all technical and race management support.

Ms Searle said: "It is an adventure that I have dreamt about doing for years despite never having sailed before - but then I'd never rowed before I rowed across the Atlantic.

"Last winter I sailed the Southern Ocean as a crew member with Team Pindar during the Global Challenge and absolutely loved it - the rougher, the better.

"The fact that no woman has ever achieved this record before should maybe set the alarm bells ringing in my head, but I'm choosing to focus on the success of my attempt rather than those who have failed in the past."