Dame Ellen MacArthur sailed under Tower Bridge today with a five-strong crew of youngsters recovering from cancer. She received a warm welcome from hundreds of onlookers and well-wishers before mooring alongside HMS Belfast on the South Bank.

The young people onboard were Maxine Duggins (16, from Notting Hill), Jay Wheeler (16, from Ruislip) Michael Stefaniw (17, from Barnet) Dan Goulding (15, from Hoddesdon), and Dan Monk (23, from Basildon). Tomorrow (Friday 15 May) Ellen and the young people will visit University College Hospital to talk to those currently undergoing treatment for cancer about their experience.

Jay Wheeler said:’Today was just an epic experience! I’ve lived in London all my life but I never dreamt that one day I’d get to sail up the River Thames with Ellen MacArthur. It’s something I’ll never forget and I can’t wait to tell the other young people about it tomorrow.’

The Ellen MacArthur Trust Skandia Round Britain Voyage involves 85 young people across 17 legs, sailing the 48 foot yacht Scarlet Oyster the 2000 nautical miles around Britain on a four month voyage stopping at 17 ports around Great Britain including; Brighton, Dover, London, Ipswich, Hull, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow, Belfast, Douglas, Liverpool, Cardiff, Torquay and Southampton. The voyage started from Cowes on 3 May and will finish back in Cowes on 13 September. Scarlet Oyster arrived in London from Dover and will leave for the third leg of the Voyage to Ipswich on Thursday 21 May.