On Sunday the fleet of 12 identical 70-foot, ocean-racing yachts - which will take 11 months to circumnavigate 40,000 miles around the globe - set off on a procession down the Thames after setting sail from St Katherine Docks. In what was the biggest procession along the river since Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee celebrations last year crew members waved to their loved ones and smiled for the cameras. But now the action starts proper, and the dozen vessels will start from Southend at the start of the 5,630-mile first leg which should conclude in Rio de Janeiro in around 33 days time. You can follow all the excitement from the official race start from Southend in our live stream: