The first teams arrived in Qingdao, China, early yesterday morning – Irish time – following one of the most challenging legs of the 2013-14 edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race: GREAT Britain, Mission Performance and Derry~Londonderry~Doire were the first 3 boats to arrive at the Olympic Sailing Centre.
The crew of Derry~Londonderry~Doire were in high spirits as they joined the other boats in bright sunshine to be greeted by massed bands of drummers, dancers, throngs of well wishers, media and local VIPs. Skipper Sean McCarter said, “To arrive here today in Qingdao China is a massive relief. To finish Race 9.1 one of the toughest races in the entire Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, to finish it in one piece with the crew in good form is just a massive relief.”
“We were lucky to dodge the worst of the weather, but it definitely wasn’t easy. We faced some very tough conditions in the Taiwan Strait, and we were racing very closely with GREAT Britain and Mission Performance. ”
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