IT DID not quite match the amazing scenes when round-the-world heroine Ellen MacArthur sailed back to the UK earlier this month.

But after 88 days, 15 hours and 13 seconds at sea alone, it was the moment Mike Golding had been waiting for.

Fifteen days after limping home in third place without a keel in the gruelling Vendee Globe, he received a warm welcome home to Southampton.

About 200 onlookers, including many who had tracked the 44-year-old former fireman's progress via the Internet, cheered and clapped as Golding slowly made his way into Ocean Village marina accompanied on board Ecover by his shore crew.

Dozens lined the best vantage points along the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's balcony and the pontoon as Queen's A Kind of Magic boomed out of loudspeakers.

For the full story go to our dedicated sailing site 'Sail Solent' at: www.sailsolent.co.uk or click the link on the 'This is Southampton' homepage.