​Derry~Londonderry~Doire wins Seattle Pacific Challenge

13 April 2016

Derry~Londonderry~Doire has won its third consecutive race, finishing the Seattle Pacific Challenge at 0915 local time/1615 UTC today, 13 April.

The Northern Irish entry finished the Mighty Pacific leg after 23 and a half days at sea in Race 9 from Qingdao, China, to Seattle, USA, facing extremely tough conditions.

Skipper Daniel Smith said: "I'm so proud of my crew for working hard to win this race. I can't believe we have a hat trick of wins behind us now and this is down to each one of the team pushing hard no matter what.

"Birthday boy Tony Milsom helmed us over the line at 1615 UTC today - he said it was the best Birthday present he could wish for," Dan added.

The team also won Race 8, Da Nang, Vietnam, to Qingdao, China, and Race 7, The Whitsundays, Australia, to Da Nang, Vietnam.

Round the world crew member Ruth Charles said when she and the team left Qingdao, she challenged the team to get her to Seattle for her Birthday.

"They have got me here in time as we will tie up in the morning, which is my Birthday! I was told that the Pacific was going to be grey, and it didn't disappoint there! This has been the toughest leg so far and I'm happy all the hard work has paid off," she said.

John Carroll, a Leg 5 and 6 crew member, said: "Knowing what I know now, 3 out of 3 wins isn't a bad return for a Clipper Race sign off. I'll be sad to leave the crew here."

Ellie Fearon, a circumnavigator, said: "This is one of the least pleasant months I've ever had the joy to endure, however it's all good character building and I am glad to have done it. I am now looking forward to thawing out my feet!"

Shane Brunker, the Derry City and Strabane District Council 'Voice of the Community' bursary winner and Leg 6 ambassador, added: "I feel a sense of relief, pride and a mixture of other emotions at the completion of the Pacific crossing."

The team will now motorsail the final 120 nautical miles to avoid the busy shipping lanes between the finish line and Seattle, and make best speed to Bell Harbor Marina in the Port of Seattle, with an ETA of 0800 and 0900 local time tomorrow, Thursday 14th April.

Who will win the battle for second and third position to complete the podium? Just three nautical miles separates Unicef in second place and LMAX Exchange in third place, after 5,300 nMs of racing.

Keep following the exciting denouement of Race 9 here on the Race Viewer.

Join The Race