Exhausted sailors celebrate finish of gruelling Clipper Round The World race in Portsmouth - pictures

Large crowds gathered welcome home amateur sailors who completed one of the most gruelling endurance challenges ever devised.

All ten teams taking part in the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race sailed to Gunwharf Quays yesterday afternoon (July 25). Starting nearly a year ago, they raced across 40,000 nautical miles worth of stages.

This year’s winner is Team GOSH, sponsored by Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, with the youngest Skipper and First Mate combination to ever win the race. Skipper Oli Irvine, 26, and First Mate Otto Kurlow, 22, triumphed after winning seven out of the 13 stages. After a gripping final part to the race, Team London Business School took second and Team Scotland took third place.

The Clipper race sees people from all walks of life take part and go through an intense training regime. Founded by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, the Clipper Race’s global route is broken down into eight individual legs. Sailors can choose to sign up to one, multiple or all of the legs - with the latter making them part of an elite group of circumnavigators.

Here are some more pictures from the celebrations.