AN AMMANFORD man is set to achieve a lifetime's ambition by sailing solo across the Atlantic to New York.

David Lewis is setting off from Dale, near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, at the end of the month and expects to set foot on American soil six weeks later.

The forty-six-year-old says he has been planning the trip for years, and decided, with middle age fast approaching, that the plunge had to be taken.

"A lot of the boys at the boat club in Llansteffan have been saying they wished they had done it, but they are too old now," said Mr Lewis, who lives in New Road.

"So I decided to go for it and hopefully I'll be on my way on May 28.

"I think if I don't do it now, I never will."

Neighbours have been wishing the father-of-two well but he admits they have not had much of a chance to get away from the planned journey.

"My boat has been parked up outside the house for a while so they have all seen it."

Bought for £4,000 and named Dolfin, the vessel has been charged with getting him across the Atlantic in one piece.

And while that is the most he has spent on one piece of equipment for the trip, David sure knows a bargain when he sees one.

"I managed to get most of the other stuff I needed from Ebay," he chuckled.

While users of the online marketplace from all over Britain have helped with the preparation, plans for the solo venture were almost brought to an abrupt hold by somebody closer to home.

"My son Glyn really wants to come with me but I've always had it in my mind to go it alone and so I decided that's what I am going to do," he added.