THEY are home at last.

Thousands of people have given the fleet of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race a raptuous welcome back to Southampton .

The ten crews this morning completed the final 260-mile sprint leg of the 40,000-mile competition, and completed the final parade up Southampton Water to finish the voyage at Ocean Village.

Overall winner Gold Coast Australia sealed victory in style by clinching first place in the final leg in the early hours of this morning.

The crew had caused a shock by slipping into last place on the sprint from Den Helder in Holland, but powered through the field to clinch yet another race win.

Behind them there was a nail-biting finish for third place in the overall race, which was grabbed by Singapore thanks to a second place finish in Race 15, just seven seconds ahead of third-placed De Lage Landen.

Thousands of people are expected to enjoy entertainment at the Ocean Village marina, which runs from 11am to 6pm.

The yachts, which have been crewed by amateurs under the guidance of professional skippers,  arrived at 1.30pm, following a spectacular parade along Southampton Water flanked by a huge flotilla of boats.