Around Alone sailor Alan Paris once again fell into the spotlight as he was presented to Prince Edward this weekend.

Mr. Paris, who skippered the BTC Velocity for 28,000 miles to become the first Bermudian to sail the world solo, joined the list of those impressed by the Prince's enthusiasm and interest during their brief meeting outside the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

The Prince had just spent an hour on a boat watching the King Edward VII Gold Cup sailing, something Mr. Paris was keen to get back to.

After the meeting the Prince headed downstairs to La Coquille for a lunch hosted by the Premier Alex Scott but the sailor was left uninvited - but didn't mind one iota.

“I'm rather glad I don't have to stay for lunch,” said the ever-enthusiastic Mr. Paris.

“I'm going to go and change out of these clothes and then I'm off to watch the rest of the sailing.”

The sailor, whose boat is still on display outside BUEI, explained to the Prince how the vessel had remained in its temporary display home despite the ravages of Fabian and that the brown stains on the boat's hull were caused by plants during the storm and not during the months spent at sea.

“He seemed genuinely interested and asked some probing questions,” Mr. Paris told The Royal Gazette after Saturday's brush with royalty.

“He seems like a very down-to-earth man, not too formal, not too informal. Yes, it is nice to meet royalty.

“ It was an unexpected surprise and it is one of many remarkable things that has happened to me since I completed my journey.”

Mr. Paris said that although the interest in him was diminishing the size of Bermuda ensured that there was still some recognition for what he has done.

“If this was anywhere else in the world I think it would be largely ignored and by now people would have lost interest,” he said.

“But because of the size of the community here, I continue to get some recognition for what I did.

“I would say I get stopped in the street by schoolkids maybe once-a-week - and I don't mind that at all.

“Sailing around the world is a wholly selfish endeavour but when you get kids leaning out the windows of cars and shouting and waving, it makes it worthwhile.”

Mr. Paris went on to watch the Gold Cup sailing, but admitted “sailing across the ocean is more my thing”.

“I love watching the event, especially the youngsters,” he added.

“Although my skill level at that sort of thing is zip.”