Forty years to the day that Sir Francis Chichester sailed Gipsy Moth IV home to Plymouth after his epic solo record-breaking circumnavigation, the 53ft ketch repeated history on Bank Holiday Monday.

The 53ft ketch, which has been sailed round the world by 90 young people under 10 different skippers, visiting 20 countries in 600 days during her second lap of the planet, was greeted by an armada of well-wishers, including Giles Chichester, son of Sir Francis.

Commenting at a reception committee at the Royal Western Yacht Club, Chichester said: “It’s wonderful to see the yacht inspiring a sense of adventure in a new generation of young people.”

The plan to restore Gipsy Moth IV after 37 years in dry dock at Greenwich and sail her around the world came from the project’s founder, Yachting Monthly – Yachting World’ sister magazine – which approached the United Kingdom Sailing Academy, in Cowes. The UKSA saw an opportunity to save a key part of Britain’s sailing history and create a project to inspire young people to engage in maritime activities and help to revive Britain’s maritime heritage.