Sailor Dee Caffari in new round-world record

British sailor Dee Caffari has become the only woman to have sailed around the world non-stop three times after she finished the Barcelona World Race.

The 38-year-old from Hampshire punched the air as her boat crossed the line off Barcelona, Spain, in sixth place.

She has spent nearly 103 days at sea in the 25,000-mile race along with her Spanish co-skipper Anna Corbella, 34.

Caffari has already successfully circumnavigated the globe twice solo, and now once double-handed.

Speaking on her boat, Caffari said: "It's been a long time but it feels great to be finished. We were ready for the finish, for some fresh food and a hot shower.

"Finishing with this reception in Barcelona so early in the morning is great."

Caffari added this would not be her final race: "I'm learning. I'm getting better at it and, believe it or not, there are a few more round the worlds in me, and I consider myself relatively sane."

The yachtswoman draped herself in a Union Jack flag as she entered a port filled with hundreds of supporters.

Caffari and Corbella sprayed each other with champagne before receiving their trophies.

In her final communication from sea, the former PE teacher from Titchfield said she had done her hair in preparation for the arrival.

French winners

The achievement puts her in the same league as some of the female greats of offshore sailing, including Dame Ellen MacArthur, who has completed two non-stop circumnavigations.

The yachtswoman is also still the only woman to have sailed solo and non-stop around the world, both with and against the prevailing winds and currents.

Fourteen boats left Barcelona at the end of December, with Caffari and Corbella the only all-female team taking part.

Since then four crews were forced to retire during the competition, which took the boats around the three capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn.

This second edition of the race was won on 4 April by French duo Jean-Pierre Dick and Loick Peryon on board Virbac-Paprec 3 in 93 days and 22 hours.

Although Caffari and Corbella managed to finish non-stop, the rules of the race do allow the yachts to stop and several, including the winner, did so.