A SELF-proclaimed "old sea dog" is hoping to enthral visitors to the forthcoming Easter Sea Festival in Watchet with tales of his round-the-world sailing exploits.

Bob Burns, who lives aboard his yacht Roamer in Watchet Marina, has published a book about his adventures on the high seas.

Called Roamer Around the World, the book will be officially launched at the forthcoming sea festival weekend and Bob will be on hand to sign copies in the marina office.

Originally from Brighton, Bob, who is 70 tomorrow (Saturday), has spent most of his life at sea, working for the Royal Navy, on oil rigs and on yachts.

He retired from full-time employment in 1984 and sailed off on his custom-built, 36 feet yacht to circumnavigate the world.

"We sailed the classic route down the Atlantic to Cape Town, across the Roaring Forties to Hobart, Tasmania and on to Cape Horn and into Port Stanley in the Falklands, where we had a disaster with a large vessel and lost both of Roamer's masts," Bob said.

After temporarily repairing the damage as best he could, he sailed back to Falmouth - a 9,000 mile journey that took seven months at a speed of just two knots, or two miles an hour.

Back home he got married, found some new masts and set off again to South Africa, enjoying "various adventures" in the Atlantic Ocean.

In the following years he undertook a number of yacht deliveries around the Caribbean and other tropical climes but concedes a triple heart bypass in 2001 "slowed him down a bit".

Undaunted by the operation, he sailed back to the UK and eventually settled in Watchet.

Throughout his journeys he kept notes and diaries but, unable to find a publisher, simply put them to one side and forgot about them.

It was only when his brother came across his writings last year that he decided to have his memoirs published privately.

"It is the story of how a working-class chap from the back streets of Brighton got together a yacht and sailed it around the world.

"We have a plan with the Watchet Marina Office and Chandlery for a book launch over the Easter sea festival and Roamer will be 'parked' close to the office with flags and publicity flying," Bob said.

The two-day sea festival takes place on Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, and will highlight all that the town has to offer now, as well as celebrating its history as an ancient sea port.

Shopkeepers, publicans, café owners, museums, traders and local organisations have all joined forces for the event, which will include live music, exhibitions, competitions, a treasure hunt and Punch and Judy.

Pirates, sailors and other sea characters will be dotted around the town, Minehead's lifeboats are scheduled to visit on Saturday, there will be kids craft activities, a real ale festival and even an pub-based beach party.

Bob Burns is pictured with his book Roamer Around the World.

Photo: Steve Guscott.