Race 5 Day 9: The Derry “LondonDerry” Doire has slipped out of contention for first place in the fifth leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
After racing over 2,000 miles from Albany, Western Australia and with less than 30 miles to the finish line in Sydney, the Henri Lloyd and the Qingdao and OneDLL are battling for the top spot and those all-important 12 points?
Sean McCarter, skipper of the Derry Clipper, explained the reason for dropping off the pace: “We have got what is probably the most unpleasant sailing conditions possible. After crossing to the north side of Bass Strait yesterday afternoon the wind slowly subsided and so changed up the sail plan to match the conditions and maintain boat speed.
“We have made such good time from Albany but now we are thwarted by the weather at the final hurdle. All the crew want to do now is get to Sydney, meet loved ones, have a shower, a good meal and sleep in a real bed. We are making steady albeit slow progress and should hopefully finish the race sometime tomorrow morning.”
While in Sydney, the Derry Clipper will take part in the famous Rolex Sydney Hobart Boat Race on St Stephen’s Day before the start of Race 7 which will leave King’s Pier Marina on 29 December for the 1,200 mile sail to Brisbane.