A FINANCE director from West Ealing has returned to the UK after completing the Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race.

By completing the 40,000 nautical mile-long race, Sue Melly joins a small group of people who can call themselves circumnavigators, crossing all meridians of longitude and passing the equator twice.

Putting it into perspective, more people have climbed Mount Everest than have sailed around the world.

Racing in one of 11 identical teams, it took 11 months to complete the test of endurance, resilience and courage.

Clipper Race crews, aged between 18 and 75, put their regular lives on pause to take on the race of their lives.

Sue sailed on board UNICEF, which won the 14th and final stage from Oban to Portsmouth to finish fourth overall.

Founded by Sir Robin-Knox Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop round the world, the Clipper Race is a global sailing event which is open to anyone over 18 regardless of previous sailing experience.

Many race crew had no previous sailing experience before the four weeks of mandatory training ahead of departing Portsmouth on September 3.