A PEMBROKESHIRE sailor has completed a near-circumnavigation of the globe after leading her crew across the Atlantic in the Clipper 2025-26 Race.

Lou Boorman, from Haverfordwest, skippered Team Tongyeong on the crossing from Washington, DC, to Oban, Scotland, the final major ocean leg before the race returns to UK waters.

The Clipper Race, which began in Portsmouth last August, sees amateur sailors trained to compete in a gruelling 40,000-nautical-mile challenge around the world. The fleet is made up of 10 identical yachts, each led by a professional skipper and first mate and carrying crews of up to 22 non-professional sailors.

Reflecting on the achievement, Ms Boorman said reaching the closing stages of the race felt surreal. She described the voyage as the toughest challenge of her life and said the team remained determined to add to its three podium finishes.

Over the past 10 months, Ms Boorman has represented the South Korean city of Tongyeong while guiding her crew through some of the world's most demanding sailing conditions.

She said one of the biggest tests had been managing and leading people rather than the sailing itself.

The North Atlantic crossing is regarded as one of the most unpredictable sections of the route, with crews facing rapidly changing weather and challenging seas.

The fleet's arrival in Oban marks its return to UK waters after visiting ports across several continents. From there, the yachts will set sail for Portsmouth, where the race concludes on July 25.

Competitive sailing has been a lifelong passion for Ms Boorman. By the age of 16, she was British, Irish and Welsh female champion, later becoming the youngest skipper to take part in the Round Britain and Ireland Race before building an international career.

Applications for the 2027-28 Clipper Race are already open.