Derry–Londonderry–Doire Takes First Win of Clipper Round The World Race Series

15th February 2016

Following a challenging 28 day Clipper race in which crew faced a whole range of conditions, Irish boat Derry~Londonderry~Doire has won the Da Nang New Discovery of Asia Race, taking its first race victory of the series. The team also won the Ocean Sprint and came second in the Scoring Gate so take home an overall 16 points.

Skipper Daniel Smith says: "The crew have worked tirelessly on board Derry~Londonderry~Doire to first defend then extend and finally defend again our lead over the rest of the fleet. We have constantly been looking over our shoulder as the teams behind pushed hard to catch us. The competition has been hard to beat.

"Over the last few races we've felt we've had a run of bad luck and struggled to get the boat going and the results we wanted. It’s been great to break that spell of bad luck and show that we can get the best out of the boat. The crew have done a fantastic job of getting the boat to the front of the fleet and keeping it there.

"There will be some more great results to come from Derry~Londonderry~Doire over the coming races so watch this space."

After another very close dual, Garmin finished second and GREAT Britain is third but will also pick up an additional three points for winning the Scoring Gate early on in the race. Three hours and four minutes redress was applied to LMAX Exchange's overall finish and was based on average speed, after it assisted an abandoned yacht on Day 7, though this did not change its overall position and it retains its fourth place finish position.

From starting off with a fast downwind sprint in scorchng 40+ degree heat as teams headed north through the tropics and across the Equator line for the second and final time in the series, to winds that gusted over 50 knots in lumpy swells, plus upwind conditions in cooler conditions, and then dying winds in the final stages, this race really has thrown it all at the crew.

Teams are now making best speed to Da Nang where a colurful welcome cermony awaits each team. Da Nang, Vietnam's third largest city and awarded Tripadvisor 2015 Top Destination on the Rise, boasts a stunning sandy coastline and as a first-time host port, the city is very excited to welcome the crew, along with friends, family and supporters.

The provisional race positions for the Da Nang New Discovery of Asia Race are as follows:

1st – Derry~Londonderry~Doire (+ 2 Ocean Sprint + 2 Scoring Gate points)
2nd – Garmin
3rd – GREAT Britain (+ 3 Scoring Gate points)
4th – LMAX Exchange
5th – Qingdao (+ 1 Scoring Gate point)
6th – Da Nang - Viet Nam
7th – ClipperTelemed+
8th – IchorCoal
9th – PSP Logistics
10th – Unicef
11th – Mission Performance
12th - Visit Seattle

All teams are currently expected to arrive on Wednesday 17 February, every hour between 0900 and 2100.

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About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven 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 train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.