A solo sailor has told how torrential storms off Bermuda nearly scuppered her dream of sailing around the world at the last hurdle.

After trekking more than 30,000 miles in 18 months, Donna Lange says the toughest challenge of all was provided by hurricane force winds and 40-foot waves on her last few hundred miles approaching the Island.

For the final stretch, her vessel’s steering vane was broken — meaning the mother-of-four had to direct it manually from the deck while fearsome waves battered her from all angles.

She finally arrived in St. George’s Harbour on Thursday afternoon following four continuous days of horrendous weather.

After resting a few days in Bermuda, she will head off to Rhode Island, where a huge welcome home party has been lined up to celebrate the completion of a trip which began back in November 2005.

“The storm just built and built and built,” Ms Lange said yesterday. “It had been pretty bad since Sunday, and by Tuesday I thought I was through the worst of it. But then it just blew right back. It was worse than anything you have seen in action movies.

“The steering vane went down on Monday or Tuesday. After that, you couldn’t even look away for a second or the boat would be going in the wrong direction. It was a lot of physical work and took a hell of a lot of concentration, it was massive.

“I wasn’t afraid. I don’t remember thinking a lot. I was singing songs to the sea and thinking about the people who I care about.

“People following me for a long time wouldn’t have been worried because they know if there’s anyone who can get through this, it’s me.”

Ms Lange ran into trouble around 200 miles west of Bermuda. As well as damaging her 28-foot sailboat Inspired Insanity, the conditions of the past few days have taken their toll on the sailor. She repeatedly dozed off while standing up in the final few hours as she made her way towards St. George’s.

The sailor added: “My face is sore, sore, sore because the rain was hitting it for so long. The stress and strain on the body was pretty unreal. It will get worse after another day’s rest — it’s not over yet.”

However, the pain has been overshadowed by relief at reaching dry land. Brian Oatley, of St. George’s Dinghy and Sports Club, who helped tow Ms Lange into harbour in his catamaran.

Ms Lange said: “I’m a very happy person today. It’s a great sense of achievement to come this far. It wasn’t about proving anything, it’s about finding the true roots of happiness and I feel good about that. I can’t wait to meet everyone again. It will be a spiritual event for all of us and there will be some tears.”

Ms Lange has technically already circled the world because her journey began in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. However, she will continue on to Bristol, Rhode Island, because that was where she was officially waved off.

Meanwhile, Velux 5 Oceans Race sailor Graham Dalton on A Southern Man AGD<$> was forced to dock in Bermuda due to strong winds, the race’s official website has reported. Mr. Dalton was required to stay in Bermuda for 48 hours and is expected to leave at 7 a.m. this morning.