Sailing couple Conor and Marion Wall have returned home to Christchurch three years after embarking on a round-the-world adventure.

The travellers, aboard their 44ft sailing yacht Toucan, were greeted by dozens of wellwishers who lined the harbourside and received a special escort into the harbour from the volunteer crew from Mudeford RNLI on Saturday.

Conor and Marion are the only couple from Christchurch Sailing Club to have successfully completed a
circumnavigation of the world.

The pair said they had been shown a great kindness by the
welcome from family, friends and supporters as they made their return
through Mudeford back to Christchurch Sailing Club.

They were
‘touched’ that Mudeford Servant was there to lead the escort home.

The couple left Christchurch in 2010 and explored the coasts of Spain and Portugal before taking part in the Atlantic Rally
for Cruisers to the Caribbean.

They sailed through the Panama Canal and visited New Zealand, Fiji
and northern Australia, before undertaking the
challenging passage across the Indian Ocean to Mauritius and around the
southern coast of Africa.

Their final journey took them from Brazil to the
Caribbean and back across the Atlantic.

Read their blog at http://blog.mailasail.com/wall

Pictures: Conor and Marion Wall ‘being silly’ crossing the line at the end of
circumnavigation in Grenada.

Toucan being escorted through Mudeford Quay, past waiting supporters and family. Credit:RNLI