Royal Navy warship HMS Illustrious has sailed from Hampshire for a three-month training deployment in the Mediterranean.

BBC: HMS Illustrious

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced last month it will preserve HMS Illustrious once it leaves service in 2014.

BBC: HMS Illustrious

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious will wave off the yachts.

BBC: Southampton festival opens Clipper Round the World Race

The Royal Navy is expected to have no aircraft carriers between 2014, when HMS Illustrious is taken out of service, and 2016, when HMS Queen Elizabeth is completed.

BBC: Aircraft carrier section begins journey from Govan to Fife

As far as the HMS Illustrious is concerned - Britain's aircraft carrier - it has taken security precautions when it came into Salalah Harbour just behind me here.

BBC: Middle East correspondent Frank Gardner

The fleet will sail in formation ahead of HMS Illustrious at 13:30 BST on Sunday in time for the start of the race, off the Royal Yacht Squadron Line in Cowes at 16:30 BST.

BBC: Southampton festival opens Clipper Round the World Race