Those who enjoy sailing events had a banner day on Sunday when 1,000 vessels took to the Thames to honour the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

More than one million well-wishers lined the banks of the river as the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant snaked its way through London in one of the biggest spectacles seen on the capital's famous waterway for 350 years.

The flotilla began upriver of Battersea Bridge and finished downriver of Tower Bridge, and organisers have hailed those who braved the rain on the day.

Lord Salisbury, chairman of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation, said: "We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Her Majesty The Queen, the other members of the royal family and of course all those people who braved the elements to come out to enjoy our pageant.

"We hope it was a fitting tribute to 60 years of service. I would also like to pay tribute to our pageant team. It was a triumph of their professionalism and years of hard work."

Taking centre stage was the Queen herself, waving to the crowds from her dignified royal barge as the whole world helped her celebrate 60 years on the throne.

Hundreds of vessels sporting every colour of the rainbow and many more tacked the seven mile route, with all and sundry showing a stiff upper lip against the pouring rain, which tried but failed to blight the day's celebrations.

Many of those standing on the banks waving Union Jack flags at the passing leisure cruisers and yachts may well have wished they could have been out there on the water. To that end, they may be interested in looking at learn to sail options - and with Sunsail offering a range of courses from beginner to advanced our website is a good place to begin your nautical quest.

Those putting up their hoods on the river banks as the rain poured down were at least reminded of sailing holidays in sunnier climes as a Hawaiian war canoe and Venetian gondolas cruised past. But alongside the larger vessels were also rowing boats and other small crafts.

The Queen also showed a typically British attitude to the weather, smiling and waving to the jubilant crowds from the deck of the Spirit of Chartwell despite the persistent drizzle. The monarch was accompanied by her husband Philip during the four-hour precession.

People flocked to the capital from all over the world to see events unfold, with many taking advantage of the extended bank holiday to turn the weekend into a longer holiday.

Sandra Evans, 68, a retired shop worker from east London, said: "It made me proud to be British. It'll be a long time before London has another day like this."

Pageant master Adrian Evans said: "I would like to add my personal thanks to the 1,000 skippers and their crews, who did a magnificent job bringing their vessels safely onto the river, helping to create a truly majestic spectacle.

"Thanks to the extraordinary valour of the rowers, a new Canaletto moment was created. We are all thrilled that two years of careful planning and preparation by so many people has paid off. We very much hope that The Queen enjoyed it as much as we did."