Sir Robin Knox-Johnston honoured with the medal of Saint Malo, France

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Founder and Chairman of the Clipper Race, has been given the medal of the honour of the City of Saint Malo.

Mayor Claude Renoult presented Sir Robin with the medal in honour of his "remarkable" career as a navigator at the Hotel de Ville by the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe race village.

Sir Robin is less than three days away from setting off on his second Route du Rhum, the French solo Transatlantic race, which he first took part in 32 years ago. He will race to Guadeloupe in the Rhum class on his Open 60 Grey Power.

Sir Robin said: “It’s a fantastic honour to receive this and the medal is beautiful. They really know how to make a man happy. Saint Malo puts on a great show during this race.”

The Mayor, Claude Renoult, said: “I remember well when Sir Robin was here competing back in 1982 and it is a great pleasure to have him back and to present him with our medal of the city.

“The medal is for everything he has done in the history of sailing since his first feat in the Golden Globe Race in 1968/9.

“I wish him the best conditions across the Atlantic for a successful Route du Rhum race.”

Pierre Bojic, general director of course organisers Pen Duick, was also present at the ceremony, along with fellow Rhum class competitor and Saint Malo resident, Bob Escoffier.

Sir Robin was inspired to return to competitive racing after watching his Clipper Race crews sail off during the last edition of the race,and during his own Rolex Sydney Hobart Race participation which formed part of the ocean odyssey.

More updates will follow ahead of Sunday's race start and during the race to the Caribbean island.