Clipper Race Fleet Dodges Whales in Race to Ireland

28th June 2018

Afloat.ie Team

The race to Ireland began in perfect champagne sailing conditions under bright blue skies off the coast of Long Island, New York, USA

The Clipper Race fleet has captured a spectacular vision of the pod of whales that joined the teams for the Le Mans style start of the penultimate race of the 40,000 nautical mile, eleven-month circumnavigation - a two-week race across the North Atlantic to Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

The race to Ireland began in perfect champagne sailing conditions under bright blue skies off the coast of Long Island, New York, USA. Clipper Race team Sanya Serenity Coast was quick off the mark, followed closely by Nasdaq, though it quickly became apparent that it wouldn't be a straightforward start.

HotelPlanner.com Skipper Conall Morrison, who hails from Derry-Londonderry and learned to sail on Lough Swilly, says: "It is thrilling to see the whole fleet so close together and be able to trump each other or see them pull away. We got treated with whale sightings and a pod of dolphins as we sail along the continental shelf on top of it all. A huge whale cruised past us as we were going along at 8 knots ... he must have been in a hurry."

GREAT Britain Skipper Dave Hartshorn adds: "10 minutes after the Le Mans start, the point when you are free to choose your own course and point of sail, we could see coming towards a series of blow spouts of whales breaking water to breathe.

"As the fleet charged forward, it was if there were large puffs of smoke from small explosions breaking out across the water between the boats.

More than 200 people from all walks of life and representing 23 different nationalities are taking part in the race to Derry-Londonderry, including six from Ireland.

Race 12: The LegenDerry Race is expected to take up to 19 days, with the Clipper Race fleet estimated to arrive in Derry-Londonderry between 10-14 July – just in time for the Foyle Maritime Festival. The award-winning festival will run from Saturday 14 July until the fleet departs for Liverpool on Sunday 22 July.

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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.