The Derry “LondonDerry” Doire yacht has got “off to a flyer” at the start of the second race in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race – a 5,000 mile crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from France to Brazil.
The 12 yachts set off this afternoon from the port of Brest on the French coast and expected to arrive in Rio de Janeiro between 1-5 October next.
The Henri Lloyd, under skipper Eric Holden, crossed the starting line first ahead of GREAT Britain followed by skipper Sean McCarter and his Derry crew, on a close-hauled start. But it was the Derry clipper who was first round the windward mark followed by Henri Lloyd and PSP Logistics.
GREAT Britain opted to take a penalty 720 degree turn after touching the mark.
Race director, Justin Taylor, said: “Three minutes before the start, the yachts were fully powered up and as the wind increased, the boats that benefitted were the ones with a reef in.”
Legendary British yachtsman, Clipper Race founder and chairperson, Robin Knox-Johnston said “tactically,” the Doldrums was where Race 2 was likely to be decided.
He said: “The teams will have to ensure they maintain concentration and keep the boat moving.
“Between the flat calms and the squalls, the lack of wind will be frustrating at times but how they perform at this stage of the race will be worth watching as it could make a big difference to the final positions.”
After a stopover at Marina da Gloria, Rio, the fleet will then continue on via South Africa, Western Australia, Sydney (including the world famous Rolex Sydney Hobart Race), Brisbane, Singapore, China, San Francisco, Panama, Jamaica, New York, Derry and the Netherlands before returning to London’s St Katharine Docks to finish the race in July next year
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