Yesterday afternoon, Sunday 3rd June, Dame Ellen MacArthur joined skipper Richard Baggett and his young crew as they headed down the Solent for the final part of Gipsy Moth IV’s adventure.

Gipsy Moth joined supporting vessels at Yarmouth at 1200hrs, then made her way to Gurnard Ledge Buoy to rendezvous with more yachts at 1315hrs. The original  Gypsy Moth bi-plane that flew out to meet Sir Francis as he returned from his voyage joined Gipsy Moth IV as she sailed into her new home port of Cowes, where she berthed at the UKSA at 1400hrs, joining their existing fleet of yachts.

Gipsy Moth IV’s arrival in Cowes, Isle of Wight, marks a new era for the yacht. Far from her formerly inactive life in a Greenwich dry dock, she will continue to take young people sailing in the Solent and beyond. The UKSA plans to fund these trips by selling ‘Gipsy Moth IV sailing experiences’ to members of the public and offering the yacht for corporate charter.  

Among the first companies to pledge their support to the ongoing project by chartering the yacht are Corum, the Swiss company that has supported the voyage as Official Timekeeper and JPMorgan Asset Management, who are chartering the yacht for the world famous Round the Island Race on 23rd June.