Today Tuesday 22 September, the Clipper Round the World Race started from La Rochelle for the second leg of the race to Rio de Janeiro where they should arrive around 18 October depending on conditions they encounter as they cross the Atlantic.The Cork Clipper crew had a short 4 day stop in La Rochelle where they had time to provision for the long leg ahead. At a prize giving ceremony last night the Cork Clipper crew were presented with their third place award for the first leg from Hull.
Skipper Richie Fearon stated ‘We were delighted to achieve a podium finish on the first leg as it gave the amateur crew a taste of success and it also gives the team confidence for the long sail ahead.’
Earlier yesterday, His Excellency, Paul Kavanagh Irish Ambassador to France visited the crew onboard the Ireland (Cork) yacht. The Ambassador presented the crew with a Bodhran – an Irish hand held drum that is traditionally made with goat skin.
‘I am presenting this to the crew today so that they may bring a small part of Irish tradition with them around the world. I am proud of their achievements in the first leg of the race and wish them a safe return to Cork in July 2010 where we hope many visitors from overseas will travel to see the Clipper spectacle’ stated His Excellency Paul Kavanagh,
Waves as high as ten storey buildings, sea sickness, hot sun, freezing cold and icebergs, are awaiting the amateur crew onboard the 68ft yacht . Around half of them have no previous sailing experience – but what all of them have in common is that they have put their everyday lives as air traffic controllers, interior designers, taxi drivers, lawyers, and students on hold to take on this incredible challenge.
After Rio de Janeiro the race will sail to Capetown, Freemantle, Singapore, Qingdao, San Francisco, Jamaica, New York and Nova Scotia before arriving in Kinsale, Cork in July 2010. The race will finish back in Hull on 17 July 2010.
Cork is currently planning eight days of festivities for the Clipper Race including a food, music and cultural experience. The festivities will be based in Kinsale, the gourmet capital of Ireland on the south coast of Ireland in the county of Cork.