Lord Nelson has arrived home in London after being away for almost 2 years on her epic Norton Rose Fulbright Sail the World Challenge.

Sailing down the Thames, accompanied by Tenacious, she arrived to a superb homecoming celebration, organised by the sponsors of this impressive challenge – Norton Rose Fulbright.

Lord Nelson sailed through Tower Bridge at 10.30am. JST supporters lined the quayside waving her in and the Royal Marines Band played as she came alongside HMS Belfast. Tenacious berthed before Tower Bridge alongside HMS President.

During her Sail the World challenge, Lord Nelson has travelled 51,000 nautical miles, crossed the equator 6 times, served over 2 million meals, consumed ½ a million apples and called in to over 100 ports, all the while being crewed by over 1000 people – both able-bodied and physically disabled.

Lord Nelson set sail from Southampton in September 2012, and since then has carried the Olympic Torch to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and crossed the Indian Ocean to Kochi, India. She took part in the International Fleet Review in Sydney Harbour, and was the first mixed-ability vessel to sail around the infamous Cape Horn in southern Chile in February this year.