AMATEUR sailors from the North-East passed under London's iconic Tower Bridge on Sunday at the start of a round the world yacht race

The 40,000 nautical mile global race, between six continents, which will take almost a year to complete, is the longest and toughest ocean endurance challenge on the planet

Well-wishers filled the international Race Village at St Katharine Docks, and lined the Thames to wave off the crews and their professional skippers in the tenth edition of the famous biennial Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Amongst the 690 crew members taking part in the race are five from the region, including 45-year-old IT director Sean Lee from Newcastle.

Mr Lee, who had no previous sailing experience before signing up for the race is taking part in the race on board the IchorCoal entry.

He said: “I signed up for the race some nine months ago to take part in a leg and now I am here in London to take part in the full circumnavigation.

“Today has been unbelievable, I visualised this day but never actually thought I would make it.

“I know that sounds odd but it’s a huge undertaking and takes a lot to prepare and train for but I did it and here I am.”

The fleet of twelve identical 70-foot ocean racing yachts, along with a flotilla of RNLI support vessels and spectator boats, participated in a spectacular parade with Tower Bridge lifting to salute the crew twice ahead of their ocean odyssey.

Mr Lee said: “I am looking forward to arriving in Rio having crossed my first ocean.

“When I get back from my journey I hope to take my Yachtmaster Theory and continue to work on boats and look at a career in the sailing industry.

“One day I would like to fulfil my ultimate dream of owning my own boat. I don’t know where the inspiration came from really. I grew up from an early age working on the banks of the River Tyne on a Sunday so I had an affinity with the river and the sea. My family were coal miners so we don’t have a family history in sailing and up until now. I had no previous sailing experience but it is very nice to be on board a boat that is associated with coal. I like to think they are smiling down on me.”