The Clipper Race fleet has arrived into Hobart after finishing famous Australian offshore classic the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (RSHYR).
Wendy ‘Wendo’ Tuck, the first female Australian Skipper in the history of the Clipper Race, clinched first place in the Clipper 70 class of the RSHYR.
There won’t be much time to celebrate or rest in Hobart for the Clipper Race fleet as the next test, the Henri Lloyd Hobart to Whitsundays Race, starts on 2 January.
The fleet is estimated to arrive into Coral Sea Marina Resort, Airlie Beach, between January 13 and 14, with the race to Da Nang, Viet Nam, restarting there on January 18.
Wendy, the Sydney Skipper of Da Nang – Viet Nam, managed to hold off GREAT Britain and LMAX Exchange in a tight, tactical battle up the Derwent River in the closing stages of the RSHYR.
The team crossed the line at 1601 AEDT (0501 UTC) 30 December and finished in a highly respectable 22nd place in overall line honours.
At one point over the last 24 hours, the gap had narrowed to less than 3 nautical miles before Wendo opened up her lead to 10 nautical miles in the final few hours. Da Nang – Viet Nam managed to keep up good speed over the last 30 miles after the threat of lightening winds didn’t materialise.
It is the first podium for Wendo and team in the Clipper 2015-16 Race global series. This is Race 5 of 14.
“This is my favourite Sydney Hobart ever,” said Wendy who has now finished her ninth Sydney Hobart.
“It was so intense, it was horrible over the last few hours but we managed to avoid the wind holes and keep up good speed with the rest of the Clipper 70 fleet bearing down on us. We only lost speed momentarily. I was trying not to get excited, but the crew were so excited as we approached the finish.
“The crew have really performed and I am so impressed. In this race, I realised I can push them harder, and that is going to be key going forward from here. We know we can get the results,” Wendy added.
Wendy also takes the Jane Tate Memorial Trophy for being the first female Skipper across the finish Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race finish line.
Also aboard celebrating the win is local Hobart resident David Graney, a round the world crew member.
GREAT Britain finished the RSHYR in second place in the Clipper 70 class at 1722 local time/0622 UTC, and LMAX Exchange in third place at 1739 AEDT/0639 UTC.
From Coral Sea Marina Resort, Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays, the Clipper 70 fleet will race onto Da Nang, Viet Nam, for the first time in the 19-year history of the Clipper Race. The fleet will arrive into Viet Nam in mid-February 2016.
ENDS
To download official team photos and video, please visit: www.clipperroundtheworld.com/mediaportal
For interviews and further press info, please contact: Marina Thomas Senior Press Officer, Clipper Ventures mthomas@clipper-ventures.com +44 (0) 7793 417 751/Australian mobile: +61 424 941 337 Notes to Editors Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the world’s longest ocean adventure and is also regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. At 40,000 nautical miles long and taking almost a year to complete, it consists of twelve teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts. The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure. This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to taxi drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 74. Whether they choose to take on the whole circumnavigation or compete in one or more of eight individual legs, all our crew achieve something remarkable as they conquer some of the world’s most challenging oceans. The overall route is split into a series of global races and a maximum 12 points going to first place ascending to 1 point for twelfth place. The team with the highest cumulative points at the end of the final race wins the series, and the Clipper Race trophy. The Clipper 2015-16 Race started from St Katharine Docks, London on 30 August 2015 and is the event’s tenth edition. Over 700 people from more than 40 different countries are taking part, and over 3,000 novice sailors have been transformed into ocean racers throughout Clipper Race history so far.
For more information, go to www.clipperroundtheworld.com.