Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 12, Day 0: Countdown begins

Nasdaq passing the Statue of Liberty on route to the Race 12 start © Clipper Ventures

After bidding farewell to the Big Apple in style, the Clipper Race fleet has regrouped off Long Island ahead of today's Le Mans start of Race 12: The LegenDerry Race from New York to Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Race 12 is due to begin under Le Mans conditions at 1400 local time (1800 UTC), and according to Clipper Race Meteorologist Simon Rowell, the teams should see the breeze gradually build to 10 knots and veer to south-southeast for the start. But whilst the wind will keep building and veering over the coming days, visibility will be a concern at times, with fog developing at the centre of the new high cell as it moves east.

For now, all is well, with the fleet treated to several whale sightings and a dolphin show or two whilst going through refresher sailing training and MOB drills. It also has been a time for reflection ahead of what will be the sixth and final ocean crossing of the Clipper 2017-18 Race. Unicef Skipper Bob Beggs says: "This our final ocean crossing and cannot be taken for granted. The North Atlantic can be as tough as any and needs to be given respect. Still, the weather forecast is fair at the present time."

Visit Seattle Skipper Nikki Henderson has also been thinking about the last big ocean race, adding: "Now our minds look to Derry-Londonderry – 3,000 nautical miles or so in the distance - and of home to Liverpool. It feels a significant moment as we head out to start our last ocean crossing of the race.

"Let's hope we have a successful race, and hold our place on the leaderboard, and most importantly - have a fun crossing!"

Whilst Visit Seattle, currently third in the overall standings, has opted to save its Joker Card for the final race from Derry-Londonderry to Liverpool, Unicef and PSP Logistics have decided to play the device now and double any race points earned in Race 12. PSP Logistics Skipper Matt Mitchell says: "The team is super keen to get stuck in to this race and it's all to play for in the Autumn stages of this round the world race."

With just 15 points currently separating PSP Logistics in fifth from the second placed Qingdao, Qingdao Skipper Chris Kobusch knows a lot is riding on Race 12, commenting: "For us it will be a tough last Leg, as Visit Seattle and PSP Logistics both still have to play their Joker Card and might then either take our second place or be very close behind. The next two races will decide who gets onto the podium."

This is the fourth consecutive time the Clipper Race fleet has raced across the Atlantic to Derry-Londonderry, and it will be a special homecoming for Derry-Londonderry born Skipper Conall Morrison and the Irish members of his HotelPlanner.com team. After being bid farewell by Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor John Boyle, in New York, Conall says: "I am now, more than ever looking forward to this LegenDerry Race into my own home port and am very proud to have such a great and happy team along with me."

Race 12: The LegenDerry Race will be a tough 3,000 nautical mile race which is set to take up to 19 days and will feature the sixth and final ocean crossing of the circumnavigation. In the North Atlantic each of the eleven teams may encounter weather as heavy as it was in the North Pacific. Swirling depressions can result in high winds and big swells, whilst teams will also need to be on the watch for icebergs, though the strict ice limit will protect the fleet from getting too close to ice fields.

Clipper Race Director Mark Light said: "Taking a popular route across the North Atlantic, the fleet will initially head towards Canada. The Grand Banks, at the southern tip of Newfoundland, is renowned for thick fog patches and light winds as the Labrador Current brings cold water down from the Arctic, demanding vigilance from crew and Skippers."

The final stage should be an enjoyable rollercoaster ride, with fast downwind sailing on offer in the prevailing westerlies. And all the effort will be worth it, when the teams arrive to the LegenDerry warm welcome in Derry-Londonderry, and all the fun and excitement of the Foyle Maritime Festival. The award-winning festival will run from Saturday 14 July until the fleet departs for Liverpool on Sunday 22 July. For more information about Foyle Maritime Festival, see the Derry-Londonderry Stopover page on the Clipper Race website.

To see Race 12 get underway and follow the progress of the Clipper Race teams across the North Atlantic to Derry-Londonderry, keep an eye on the Race Viewer at www.clipperroundtheworld.com/race/standings

You can also find out more about life on board by reading the Skipper Blogs in full and the latest Crew Diaries.