CREW members taking part in the Clipper Round The World Race suffered seasickness as they hit rough conditions yesterday heading back across the Atlantic to Southampton.

Many of the amateur crews, who have swapped their day jobs for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sail around the world, were having to re-adjusting to life on board after two days back at sea.

“It's been a bouncy, wet and uncomfortable day,” said Rupert Dean, skipper of Welcome to Yorkshire.

The race left Nova Scotia, Canada on Friday and the sailors have nearly 3,000 difficult miles left to navigate on the final leg of the race before they return to Ocean Village for grand finale celebrations on July 22.

The fleet of ten identical 68ft racing yachts has split into two groups, a northerly and a southerly, with Visit Finland and New York opting to stay to the north of their other eight competitors, closer to the way point.

Racers will arrive in Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland between June 29 and July 1, before heading to Den Helder in Holland then onto the finish in Southampton.