A fleet of 18 naval vessels converged on Liverpool to join in the celebrations for the finish of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, led by the Royal Navy’s new assault ship, HMS Albion, on her first formal visit to a UK port.

She was accompanied by destroyer HMS Edinburgh, frigate HMS Campbeltown, minehunter HMS Inverness and patrol boat HMS Biter, along with seven other ships from NATO’s MCM Force North and six mine countermeasures vessels from the Netherlands and Belgium.

It was believed to be the largest gathering of naval vessels in Liverpool for decades.

Commodore John Madgwick, the Naval Regional Officer for Northern England, was at the centre of planning for the occasion, which he described as one of the most complex evolutions he had planned in his career.

“This really is a very special event for the city,” said Commodore Madgwick. “We have effectively turned the port into HM Naval Base Liverpool for the weekend.”

The highlight of the weekend’s celebrations came when HMS Edinburgh and HMS Biter led the eight-strong strong Clipper Challenge yacht fleet up the Mersey to the finish line off Liverpool’s Albert dock.

Thousands of spectators lined the banks to welcome the yachts home at the end of the 11-month long race, while a flotilla of local vessels and an aerobatic display added to the colour and excitement of the occasion.

HMS Edinburgh had acted as guard vessel for the final leg of the race and hosted the race officials as the yachts completed the finishing run from Holyhead to the Mersey.

For HMS Albion the celebrations did not end with the race. On completion of the weekend she was granted the freedom of her affiliated city, Chester.

More than 200 sailors and Royal Marines from the ship’s company travelled from Liverpool to Chester to exercise their newly-granted right to march through the city “with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying”.

It was a particularly poignant occasion for the four members of the ship’s company who hail from the historic city – one of them, POSA Buckley, said “I don’t usually get excited about parades, but there is something very special about marching through your home town.”

HMS Albion and HMS Inverness were both open to visitors over the weekend, and between them attracted more than 5,000 visitors.

For the remainder of the fleet it was a case of simply enjoying the weekend’s festivities and the delights of what is widely regarded as one of the best runs ashore.

Cdr Mike Flagstad, the commander of the NATO MCM Force North, summed it all up when he said, “It’s a fantastic city to visit, and my ships’ companies are making the most of it.”