Britain's solo round-the-world yachtsman Sir Alec Rose fired a 100-years-old cannon at Portsmouth, on Saturday (September 8) - and the eight nations round-the-world race was on.

Eighteen yacht slipped away from the starting line on their 28,000 mile (45,000 kms) voyage which will probably last until April 1974.

At stake - a challenge trophy; a silver globe on which the continents have been traced out in gold. There is no cash prize.

The competition is between five boats from Britain, four from Francs; three from Italy, two each from Poland and Germany and one entry each from South Africa, Sweden and Mexico.

The race is in four stages: Portsmouth - cape Town; Caps Town to Sydney; Sydney - Rio de Janeiro; and Rio - Portsmouth.