Nine months after being lifted from her concrete tomb Gipsy Moth IV – following a campaign by Yachting Monthly to get the ketch restored – returned to Greenwich for a reception held by the local yacht club.

Having taken 26 hours to motor around from the Solent – against adverse winds – the crew were glad to get ashore for a lunch prepared by the Greenwich Yacht Club.

GMIV is in the West India Dock preparing for her re-dedication by Princess Anne tomorrow at Greenwich. Skipper Richard Baggett, 33, will bring the boat across to Greenwich where she will be visited by Ellen MacArthur and Ginnie Chichester, daughter-in-law of Sir Francis.