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Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race

Visit Finland ends Gold Coast Australia winning streak by six minutes

mardi 13 décembre 2011Redaction SSS [Source RP]

In a thrilling end to what has been a gripping race from Tauranga, New Zealand, in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race, Visit Finland has denied the home favourite, Gold Coast Australia, their sixth consecutive victory and a coveted home port win.

The Finns crossed the Race 6 finish line just after sunrise at 0444 local time today (1844 UTC Monday) with the sun glinting off the distinctive high-rise skyline. They were just six minutes ahead of Gold Coast Australia at the end of the 1,300-mile race.

Olly Osborne, skipper of Visit Finland said, “This is our first podium top spot and we’ve been on the heels of Gold Coast Australia for a long time. It feels fantastic, it really does ; we’ve been wanting to get there for so long. Bit of a shame it had to be her home port – I feel a bit mean about that, but that’s the brief and you’ve got to do your best, haven’t you !”

The people who take part in the Clipper Race come from all walks of life and between them represent more than 40 different nationalities. They have one aim in common – to take on the challenge of a lifetime, a 40,000-mile (64,000-kilometre) circumnavigation under sail.

Chichester yachtsman, Olly, continued, “The team is pretty ecstatic – the guys are over the moon. They really gave a hearty cheer when we crossed the line because they didn’t know either until the last half hour how it was going to pan out.”

For Tasmanian skipper, Richard Hewson and the crew of Gold Coast Australia, the arrival in their home port is bitter sweet. The warmth of the welcome, as Southport Yacht Club members, family and friends applauded them up the pontoon to the club house where breakfast awaited them, countered by the disappointment of such a narrow defeat to Visit Finland.

“Everyone did their best and the crew worked really hard. They sailed to the best of their ability, pushed themselves beyond the point they would normally push themselves in everyday life and that’s all I can ask for. I had a really good time, racing among all the other yachts.”

The record Record #sailingrecord of six consecutive victories in a single edition of the race, which is now in its 15th year, has stood since Clipper 98.

“We didn’t get Alex Thomson’s record Record #sailingrecord this time which I was really gunning for, but hey, there’s still another nine races to go so maybe we’ll get nine in a row, who knows !” said Richard.

The victory is extra special for one of Visit Finland’s crew members : Tea Tuominen is celebrating her birthday today.

“She came to me just after we finished and said, ‘It’s the best birthday present ever,’ and gave me a big hug !” said Olly.

De Lage Landen finished third, one hour and nine minutes after the Australian team and while Gold Coast Australia and Visit Finland consolidate their first and second positions respectively at the top of the overall leader board, the Dutch team’s result is enough to lift them back to third place.

The fleet will set sail for Singapore in Race 7 of the 15-race series on Christmas Eve. All ten yachts will sail in formation along Main Beach in a Parade of Sail from the Gold Coast Seaway to Southport SLSC before the race start, which will take place at 11.30am on 24 December.

- Press info www.clipperroundtheworld.com



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