A HAMPSHIRE skipper is to be given a hero’s welcome when she and her crew sail into their yacht’s home port in their last stop of a round the world race.

Hamble yachtswoman Hannah Jenner will steer 67ft yacht Cork into the Irish city port to mark the start of a week-long festival.

Dozens of festivities are planned for the arrival of the ten Clipper Round the World Race yachts which are due to arrive in Cork at the start of July.

The Cork Clipper Festival, announced yesterday, will be the last stopover for Hannah and her crew of amateur sailors before making their way to the race finish in Hull having sailed around 35,000 miles since setting off in September.

The 29-year-old was parachuted in to take on skipper duties after yacht Cork was grounded on a reef in the Java Sea and sunk in January.

A new boat was chartered and the crew rallied round their new skipper.

Speaking at the Cork Clipper Festival launch, race founder and chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “Hannah is a wonderful skipper and has really slotted in with the Cork crew. It will be fantastic to see her sail the boat back into its home city and I’m sure she will be given a true Irish welcome.”