The ships last made the crossing for the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo in 2015, and they all gathered again in Ramsgate, Kent, on Monday, before setting sail on Wednesday.

Crews and volunteers have been attending ceremonies and events in Dunkirk.

Endeavour was one of six cockle boats from Leigh-on-Sea that helped taxi soldiers from the beach to larger ships - together credited with saving about 180 troops.

Mr McGregor - who was one of nine volunteers returning on Endeavour - said half of his team had already taken the ferry home, and the rest would depart on Sunday.

"We heard reports of a navy boat being spun around by a wave, so we decided to moor up," said the 64-year-old.

"It's frustrating but these things happen. People get wound up but it's just what travelling on the sea is like, you can't predict anything."

They hope to bring Endeavour home as soon as possible.

Pudge is a wooden Thames sailing barge that helped save an estimated 160 troops at Dunkirk. It is now run as a charter boat in Maldon.

Gerald Moore, who travelled on Pudge to Dunkirk, said: "Several of them turned round and came into the port as the waves were two metres high and running in the wrong direction.

"We are almost certainly staying until Monday, but it's going to be a day-by-day check of the weather."

Mr Moore said the trip was by no means a wasted journey: "The whole thing has been absolutely amazing and the town of Dunkirk has done us proud.

"It's been a thrilling experience."