A SEASONED ocean-going skipper who left his Witherslack home four months to join an epic global voyage is celebrating his crew's safe return.

Martin Clough, 58, took the "impulsive decision" to join the extremely challenging Clipper Round the World Race back in March when the skipper of one of the 12 identical yachts fell ill.

With his lifelong experience as a sailing instructor and racer, 'Cloughy' was asked to lead the UNICEF boat's amateur crew on leg four - 5,015 miles around the southern coast of Australia - with stopovers at Sydney, Tasmania and Queensland.

"It was quite an impulsive decision to come and step in halfway through the race," said Martin, who later rejoined the 70-foot racing yacht in China to complete the circumnavigation when the original skipper felt unable to continue. "It was an unexpected privilege when I was offered the boat."

Sadly, the 25-day race across the northern Pacific Ocean from Qingdao, China, to Seattle, USA, claimed the life of a competitor from another boat. Sarah Young was swept overboard by strong waves and her death was "tough" for the crew, said Martin.

However, their proudest moment came as they crossed the Seattle finish line in second place out of 12 teams.

"It was the most challenging race of the event with very, very rough conditions," said Martin. "At the peak of one of the storms that came through we had 90-plus-knot winds [103mph]. You've got phenomenal-sized waves, with the tips of the waves being taken off by the strength of the wind - like snow drifting, but on water. The crew can take pride in coming second in the toughest race."

Last Saturday saw scenes of jubilation as the 40,082-nautical mile (74,231km)Clipper Race ended at St Katharine Docks, London, with Martin's UNICEF crew in tenth place overall. Tower Bridge was raised and the yachts paraded up the Thames to a prizegiving by race founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Martin is now looking forward to a walking holiday in the Pyrenees with wife Amanda and son James, 11, and his next venture will see him act as relief skipper on a tall ship.

"I've spent my life working in sail training, and my dream would be for Cumbria to have a sail training ship based in Whitehaven," he said. "I'm still hopeful that maybe somebody like Vickers [BAE Systems] or BNFL could maybe join together because Vickers have the capacity to build the hull and I'm sure there's funding available. It would allow young people from Cumbria to have the experience and the reward they can get through the challenges of going to sea."