One of tightest Clipper Race finishes ever as minutes separate four yachts

After 5,000 miles of racing, less than four minutes separated four yachts at the finish line of Race 4 off Albany Waterfront Marina in Western Australia in a spectacular finish witnessed by cheering crowds.

Old Pulteney finished in eight position at 09.54 UTC, (17:54.42 local time), with Derry~Londonderry~Doire coming in ninth position at 09.56.43 UTC (17:56:43 local time), Mission Performance came in in tenth position at 09:58.27 UTC (17:58:27 local time), just pipping Invest Africa who went over the line split seconds later.

Mission Performance was flying its spinnaker and had managed to overhaul Invest Africa an hour before who fell back three places in the last hour.

Race director Justin Taylor said: ”It was a very exciting and close finish and it always amazes me that the boats finish so close together after racing 5,000 miles through the incredible conditions they have seen. It just goes to show how closely matched the yachts are and proves how hard the skippers and crews work.”