Clipper Race fleet arrives in Whitsundays!
by Joscelyn O'Keefe 17 Jan 2018 06:18 GMT
17 January 2018
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race © Joscelyn O'Keefe
They've arrived!
At 3.05pm yesterday, the first of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet arrived into the Whitsundays following Race 6: The Wondrous Whitsundays Race up the east coast of Australia.
Skippered by 24-year-old Brit Nikki Henderson, Visit Seattle crossed the finish line off the coast of Airlie Beach at 15:05:36 local time, completing the 1,600 nautical mile sprint from Hobart to the Whitsundays in 11 days.
The Visit Seattle team had to work hard for the win. The eleventh and final morning at sea saw them off the coast of Mackay and just five nautical miles ahead of the second placed PSP Logistics. Sanya Serenity Coast was only another mile astern, with just seven nautical miles separating Visit Seattle from the fourth placed Liverpool 2018.
The Clipper Race crews, their families and friends, will now enjoy a two-week break, with the Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival providing a raft of exciting events right across the region.
Tourism Whitsundays CEO Craig Turner said the region was very excited to be welcoming the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race crews to the Whitsundays.
"The crews will be able to have a well earned rest now they have arrived, before the two weeks of celebrations start," he said.
"The Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival has been created to showcase the whole region, from the islands, to the coastal mainland, to the inland country towns.
"We hope the Clipper Race crews, their families and friends enjoy experiencing our wonderful region while they are here."
During the Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival, sailing enthusiasts will enjoy tours of the ocean-racing yachts, public talks by the skippers and opportunities to meet the crews.
There will also be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a few lucky people to race around the Whitsunday Islands on the Clipper Race yachts.
Carnival events include the Bendigo Bank Clipper Welcome Party (free for everyone), the Fish D'Vine White on Whitehaven Long Lunch, the Whitsunday Foodservice Progressive Cruise Lunch and the Rodeo by the Reef, in Bowen.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only race of its kind and matches experienced skippers with novice sailors for the race, which starts and ends in Liverpool in the UK and takes in Uruguay, South Africa, Australia, China, the USA and Northern Ireland.
Crewmembers – who come from all over the world - can take part in just one leg or every leg of the 11-month long race around the globe.
The All-Australian leg is one of the toughest, with the Clipper crews completing a gruelling race around the south of Australia from Fremantle to Sydney, followed by the iconic Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Wondrous Whitsundays Race.
For more information and to book tickets for the events please visit www.whitsundayclipperrace.com.au.