Out in front: The Derry Clipper crew.
The Derry “LondonDerry” Doire is leading on day 10 of race 14 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as the fleet closes in on the River Foyle finish line.
Due to four different weather systems affecting the fleet in the 2,850 mile transatlantic crossing from New York, the first boats are now expected to arrive in Derry sometime after lunch on Sunday with the remainder predicted to arrive by late Tuesday.
The Derry Clipper is in pole position to cross the finish line in first place having overtaken Jamaica Get All Right with GREAT Britain in third spot as a result Switzerland dropping down the leaderboard after being caught in the “wind hole” following several days leading the fleet.
Derry Clipper skipper Sean McCarter.
Sean McCarter, skipper of the Derry Clipper, is delighted to be leading as the race heads for his home port.
He said: “It’s been a pretty good day on all fronts. We have managed to take the lead from our friends on Jamaica Get all Right and extended on the chasing pack.
“The wind has been kind and the sun shining.
“It’s been fairly straight forward on deck with one head-sail change followed by a reef being the only manoeuvres required in the building breeze.
“We are expecting the breeze to ease and veer tomorrow morning forcing our heading down until we can tack north.
He concluded: “We’ll probably reverse our headsail change and shake the reef and that may well be us for the following few days.”
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