Clipper Race leaves Cape Town for Australia

Cape Town, South Africa (November 4, 2013) – Twelve yachts competing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race headed out of Table Bay today to start a 4,700 mile Southern Ocean sleigh ride to Albany, Western Australia. Following a parade of sail in front of the Cape Town waterfront, the fleet headed for the start line at 14.30 local time.

GREAT Britain crossed the line first ahead of Qingdao, closely followed by Henri Lloyd, in 15 knots of wind, with Table Mountain providing a spectacular back drop to the fourth race in the 16 race series.

However, it was the current overall front runner Henri Lloyd that progressed from third place to pass the first of two windward marks ahead of the fleet, with Team Garmin and OneDLL in hot pursuit. After a sharp tack to the second windward mark OneDLL was the first team to fly its kite and take the lead with Team Garmin making a great comeback in second round the mark with Henri Lloyd in hot pursuit.

Olly Cotterell the skipper of OneDLL, said, “It is very tight but going forward were looking to get a place of the podium. We know how competitive the teams are and how fast the racing is, we know it’s going to be hard but we are determined to push hard on this race.”

The fleet is due into Albany between November 24 and 28 and will be berthed at the Albany Waterfront Marina. The Clipper Race will return to the UK in July 2014 after a total of 670 crew race 40,000 miles and visit 15 ports on six continents. To read the full release please click here

Complete race route.

Ruth Harrington, PR Officer, reporting