Mayor of Derry Brenda Stevenson with the Clipper crews before leaving Derry yesterday.
Last week’s LegenDerry Maritime Festival in Derry was one of the most successful events ever held in the city.
Organised by Derry City to welcome the fleet of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the event is believed to have generated in excess of £3 million in the local economy.
The nine day nautical celebration – which ended yesterday – attracted tens of thousands of people to the city to enjoy a programme of maritime themed activities centred round the River Foyle.
The fleet departed Derry yesterday for Den Helder in Holland on the 15th and penultimate leg of the round the world challenge.
Just like the previous Monday when thousands turned out to welcome the fleet, including the Derry “LondonDerry” Doire boat, to the city the quayside was thronged yesterday to bid farewell.
Thousands also gathered in Greencastle and Magilligan for the start of the race which featured a spectacular aerial display by the Red Arrows.
The race will stopover in Derry again in 2016.
City Mayor, Cllr Brenda Stevenson, said the festival was a world class event which “shone on the international stage.”
She added: “It was such an emotional day yesterday seeing off the Clipper Race crews who have really made the city their home for the past week.
“I would like to wish all the teams, especially our own Derry ‘LondonDerry’ Doire, the very best of luck in the final stages of the race and a safe journey to Den Helder.”
Town Clerk and chief executive of Derry City Council, Sharon O’Connor, said the event had been hugely successful in terms of promoting the North West region.
“Following on from the success of our cultural year, Derry City Council is committed to building the city’s profile both as a first class tourist destination, and the ideal place for businesses to locate in terms of both infrastructure and standard of living.
“Events like the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race provide the ideal platform for Derry to showcase all that our beautiful city has to offer.
“The event not only has a direct impact on the local economy, it sends out the message that Derry offers an exciting and unique visitor experience, and I am delighted that based on this success the Clipper Race team is already considering another stopover visit in 2016.”
She concluded: “I would like to thank everyone involved for delivering such an outstanding experience.”
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