Clipper Race fleet complete Race 11 as official New York stopover begins on Sunday

Photo by Clipper Round the World.

28-05-2012. Over a period of 15 hours, the ten entries in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race all completed Race 11 from Panama to New York, with podium places going to Gold Coast Australia, followed by Visit Finland and De Lage Landen.
The full Clipper Race fleet of ten matched 68-foot ocean racing yachts has now mustered at Liberty Landing, New Jersey, opposite the iconic Manhattan skyline before its official arrival into North Cove Marina in New York on Sunday 3 June.
Geraldton Western Australia managed to take fourth place in one of the most fiercely contested races to date – finishing just over an hour later than De Lage Landen.

Edinburgh Inspiring Capital managed to take their best position of the entire race, crossing the finish line at 1114 GMT yesterday in a respectable fifth place – following a last minute overtake by competitors during light winds, which denied the team a potential podium position.
Singapore came in sixth place and also took the vital Ocean Sprint point, where they raced the fastest on a 120 mile stretch in the 2,100 race course.

Skipper Ben Bowley said, “During the Ocean Sprint I was pretty certain we were going to make some points, we were carrying some strong breeze up to the rest of the fleet which was very satisfying, still rather frustrating as we had been the top three four position in the first part of the race and if we hadn’t fallen into that wind hole I’m pretty sure we would have our hands on that pennant now. But, it’s often the way which is the joy of ocean racing. It’s about making decisions but there is still that element of luck in it.”

Last night local time, Welcome to Yorkshire arrived in seventh place, after sunset seeing the Manhattan skyline lit up, as they sailed into New Jersey.

The New York entry followed in eighth place. Skipper Gareth Glover said, “The fleet has been really packed all the way and we all finished within few hours of each other, so it was anyone’s game towards the end.
Unfortunately, we finished in eighth which isn’t our best place – but we will still take eighth over tenth!

“And it’s great to be in our home port. We sailed past the Statue of Liberty there was a pleasure boat taking tourist around, that actually stopped and circled around us for a little while, which was really amusing. We have a few New Yorkers on board, who were super keen to helm us in and it’s great for them and the rest of the crew to get here after leaving Southampton nine months ago.”

Qingdao and Derry-Londonderry completed the fleet, arriving into the marina this morning (GMT).
The whole Clipper Race fleet then sails in a formal parade across to North Cove Marina in Manhattan’s financial district for a busy programme of activity with Clipper Race sponsors.