He may be used to “bobbing about in boats” having sailed the Mediterranean and around English waters, but Anton Mitchell, from East Worldham, newly returned from taking part in a world clipper ship race, admits “sailing the oceans is something completely different”.

Anton returned to a “roaring” welcome at his local pub, The Three Horseshoes, last Friday night filled with friends and family after completing the first two legs of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from London to Rio de Janeiro and Rio to Cape Town.

There to greet him were daughter Claire, son Alasdair and sister Ann, plus Kate Denyer, who organised the homecoming, as well as his friends and most of the village in a pub decorated by landlords John and Gill with seafaring bunting.

Sales manager Anton, 58, although a keen sailor, had no prior ocean yacht experience when he waved goodbye on board the clipper ship Great Britain in August at London’s St Katharine Docks, along with the other yachts in the race.

Described as a “race without equal”, it was founded by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail non-stop around the world so that novice sailors could experience ocean racing.

Nearly half of the 700 crew, representing 44 nationalities, from all walks of life, had never sailed before undergoing their extensive pre-race training.

The youngest is 18, the oldest is 74, and one third are women. The race continues around the world, visiting six continents before finishing in London next July.

It is one of the biggest challenges of the natural world and an endurance test like no other, a race around the world on a 70-foot ocean racing yacht, divided into eight legs. The race consists of a fleet of 12 identical yachts, each with a fully-qualified skipper.

Teams are sponsored by global destination, business and consumer brands and the yacht is named accordingly after each sponsor.

Unicef has been made its first official global charity partner. The charity has also been gifted a branded yacht entry by the organisers to help it raise its global profile and highlight its international projects at ports of call to help children in danger.

Anton was delighted to be selected to join the clipper Great Britain, for the government campaign that showcases the very best of what Britain has to offer and welcoming the world to visit, study and do business with the UK.

The Great Britain team was invited to 10 Downing Street for a photo call in front of the famous door and an official Foreign Office briefing on the campaign which they represent as they race around the world.

The “GREAT Campaign” exists in more than 144 countries and is worth £1.7bn as a top 50 world brand. It celebrates British culture, tourism, business, adventure, sport, heritage, technology, innovation and more on a global scale.

The crew come from all over the UK, as well as India, Australia, Canada and New Zealand ,and Great Britain was selected to lead the fleet under Tower Bridge on departing London.

A Clipper 70 is not a place for the faint hearted and following a pre-race training programme, the crew is a self-sufficient unit, capable of handling any situation, no matter how severe the conditions.

As well as sailing duties, crew members also learn how to be a plumber, electrician, tactician, navigator, cleaner, IT specialist, sail repairer, weather forecaster, and medic.

Being tolerant, forgiving, understanding and supportive are required, plus a high level of desire, determination and enthusiasm, to turn the crew into accomplished ocean racers.

The team is divided into watches (four hours on, four hours off at night and six on, six off during the day). Each watch must be able to fill each duty need, so when all the crew is up, there are double the hands in each area.

In contrast, ‘Mother’ watch covers 24 hours, being responsible for all catering, but allowing a good rest from 10pm to 5am when preparing breakfast starts.

Food is good with freshly baked bread, puddings, brownies, and fresh fruit.

“And when bananas deteriorate, they make delicious banana bread,” said Anton.

Of his time on the clipper, he said: “Living permanently at angles between 30 and 40 degrees can be a challenge, especially when working in the galley. Even walking becomes a mission. When below deck, a rope with knots at intervals helps moving about.

“I was privileged to see humpback whales jumping and a huge pod of dolphins. The crew were fascinated to watch booby birds gathering at the bows, waiting to catch flying fish as they scattered as spray hit them.

“With frequent watch changes, someone will always be sleeping, but activity goes on non-stop both above and below deck. Red lighting helps those trying to sleep, while sails are brought down and spread out between the bunks. Room is limited.”

Anton continued: “Heat can be a problem for sleep initially and on the race from Rio to Cape Town winds reached 60mph with 30ft swells, but if you are tired you will sleep, regardless of what is going on on deck where there is always a community busy fixing and repairing anything from plumbing to sails.”

As an indication of just how rough the seas where at times, he said: “Great Britain did experience a knockdown, when the yacht is forced over and the sails touch the water. While those on watch worked to get sailing again, there was turmoil below, anything not secure being thrown around.”

As the teams continue around the world, crew members come and go, new ones gain experience, and new friends are made.

Great Britain was third into Rio and first into Cape Town, where Anton met up with his father and cousin, but he said: “Regardless of position, each team is welcomed and celebrated as they are all superb achievers, in the race of their lives.”

The race is now continuing on its world route and is due back in London in July, but for Anton his ocean going adventure has ended and he flew back to one of the best welcomes East Worldham can lay on to salute a brave sailor and one, who along with his team mates, has shown the world just how great Britain is.