Clipper round-the-world crews return to Humber

Thousands of people have gathered in Hull to welcome home the 10 yachts which have completed the 35,000-mile Clipper Round The World Race.

The fleet made its way up the Humber to Hull marina from where they set sail last September.

Spirit of Australia clinched overall victory, with the local Hull & Humber vessel securing fourth position.

The Hull & Humber coped with losing their original skipper Piers Dudin to a broken leg in storms in the Pacific.

The event also saw one sailor swept overboard and another yacht abandoned after hitting rocks.

'Big change'

Race director Joff Bailey, who came third in 2006, said the sailors would find it hard being back on land.

"I was lucky, I did it as a professional skipper, so I carried on sailing afterwards," he said.

"A lot of the people are ordinary people - teachers and dentists and doctors - and on Monday morning, they're gonna be back at work.

"It's going be a very big change for them when they get back, but they'll have known they've done something that's been worth doing."

About 50,000 people were expected to attend a series of special events in Hull on Saturday to mark the fleet's return.