A British yachtswoman has become the youngest skipper ever to complete a round-the-world race.

Nikki Henderson returned to dock in Liverpool on Saturday, 11 months after setting out on the gruelling 40,000- nautical-mile sailing competition. She finished second in the Clipper 2017-18 Race to Australian Wendy Tuck, 53.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the co-founder of the Clipper Race, praised both women, adding that to have two females in first and second place made it a “historic” and “brilliant” finish.

Ms Henderson, who turned 25 two days ago, completed the sprint finish up the Mersey to the Royal Albert Dock as the youngest ever Clipper Race skipper, taking the title from fellow Briton Alex Thompson, who was 26 when he won the race in 1998.

She described the result as “pretty hard to believe”, adding that she “never really went into it to necessarily win”.

She said: “I definitely didn’t go out to have an easy ride, I went out wanting to do well, but I didn’t actually think [coming second] would be possible. I am overwhelmed.”