VISITORS to the New Forest can climb aboard a historic yacht this week.

Gipsy Moth IV has returned to her home at Buckler’s Hard for the season, 50 years after Sir Francis Chichester set sail on the Beaulieu River to become the first person to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe.

The vessel is moored at the bottom of the High Street, where Sir Francis originally kept her before setting sail on his voyage.

She will be open to the public on today and tomorrow and then on February 18-19 and April 14-17.

Artefacts from the voyage are on show in the attraction’s maritime museum, including a map, personal items from the adventure and records of the flooding and capsizing which put the journey at risk.

At an anniversary event in August, Sir Francis’s son Giles Chichester presented Lord Montagu with the Royal Yacht Squadron burgee flown for the circumnavigation.

Plans to celebrate the anniversary of the homecoming to Buckler’s Hard in September 2017 are already under way.

Eileen Skinner, who bought the vessel with business partner Rob Thompson and donated her to the Gipsy Moth Trust, said: “Gipsy Moth IV has been looking for a new home and we are thrilled to announce that she has moved to her original home of Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River.

“It is a beautiful spot and keeps her much more visible to the public.”

Sir Francis, the son of a clergyman, set a number of world firsts and records during the voyage.

He was the first person to sail solo around the earth and the fastest circumnavigator with his record of nine months and one day, which was almost twice as fast as the previous record.

To prepare for the voyage, Buckler’s Hard shopkeeper Rhoda Martin’s task was to preserve eggs by covering the shells with liquid paraffin and de-eyeing hundreds of potatoes to prevent them from sprouting.

According to the provisions list, Sir Francis took 156 eggs and 30lbs of potatoes on the outward journey.

He left Plymouth on August 27 1966. After 226 days at sea, with only one stop in Sydney, the 65-year-old sailor and former aviator finally returned to Buckler’s Hard on September 17 the following year. He had travelled 29,630 miles in the 54ft ketch.

Asked why he undertook the journey, Sir Francis said: “Because it intensifies life.”

After her return, Gipsy Moth IV was initially preserved alongside Cutty Sark at Greenwich.

In need of restoration, she was later sold for £1 and a gin and tonic to the UK Sailing Academy in Cowes.

When she went up for sale again, she was bought by Ms Skinner and Mr Thompson.

For more information, visit bucklershard.co.uk or call 01590 616203.