Thousands brave rain to welcome clippers to Liverpool

Jul 6 2008

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Thousands of people braved torrential rain and high winds to see the winners of the world’s only amateur round-the-world yacht race cross the finishing line.

Triumphant New York led the way into the River Mersey followed by home nation teams Hull and Humber and Glasgow.

Around 400 people crewing ten Clipper yachts have taken part in the 35,000 mile race around the globe.

The competition started in Liverpool last September, racing to Brazil, South Africa, Australia, China, Hawaii, through the Panama Canal to Jamaica, New York, Nova Scotia, Cork before returning to Liverpool today.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, the first man to sail son-stop single handedly around the world, founded the Clipper race in 1995.

He said he wanted everybody to have the opportunity to achieve such a remarkable feat.

“There are fewer people that have raced around the globe than have climbed Everest,” he said.

He added: “For those who had never sailed before they joined the Clipper Training programme a year or more ago, this means they have learned a new sport. But they have not done this in the sheltered waters of the Solent; they have done it through all the oceans of the world, in calms and in storms.

“But that is not all they take back to the land at the end of their voyage. ”They have learned that teamwork is not something preached in a weekend seminar, it is an essential part of survival at sea, and when they put their effort into their team it is not only safer it is enjoyable.“

Each Clipper yacht and team is sponsored by a “home” city.

The overall race results are:

:: 1 New York

:: 2 Hull & Humber

:: 3 Glasgow

:: 4 Qingdao

:: 5 Liverpool

:: 6 Durban

:: 7 Uniquely Singapore

:: 8 westernaustralia2011.com

:: 9 Nova Scotia

:: 10 Jamaica