HUNDREDS of people braved the wet bank holiday weather to witness history as brave crews set sail around the world from Southend Pier.

The pier was packed to watch the start of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, where 12 amateur teams will spend 11 months racing 40,000 nautical miles on the high seas.

A cannon was fired by officials from Benfleet Yacht Club in the presence of Clipper Race Chairman and legendary sailor, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, and Race Director, Justin Taylor, to mark the start of the race.

For Robert Weeden, of Chapel Road, Shoebury, it was an event too big to miss – despite the weather.

Mr Weeden, 34, said: “My girlfriend saw it in the paper and her dad found out a bit more about the race, how lots of the crew were not that experienced, and it was local so we thought we would make the effort.

“I didn’t think there was going to be so many people. I think it’s a really good thing for Southend – I’ve been a taxi driver for 12 years and I’ve seen the town gradually polish itself up over the years.

“Things like this also add to my way of being able to talk to customers.”

The race is split into several legs, with crew members interchanging thorughout the trip, with many having no sailing experience other than the short training they receive before dropping anchor.

Jane Farriday, 70, of Holland Road, Southend, was inspired to take on the two-month leg seven of the race, between Seattle and New York via the Panama Canal.

She said: “I’ve done the odd bit of windsurfing in Southend, but that’s about it, and last year the yachts parked up at the end of Holland Road, so I thought I would give it a go while I still can.

“I can’t wait to get to Seattle – it’s going to be brilliant.”

The first leg of the race will end in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before travelling to Cape Town in South Africa, Albany and Sydney in Australia, Da Nang in Vietnam, Qingdao in China, Seattle, Panama and New York, Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland and Den Helder in the Netherlands.

They are expected back in London on July 30 next year.