Switzerland claims its first win in Race 7 to Brisbane

Switzerland has crossed the finish line into Brisbane, Australia at 10:27 UTC , claiming its first podium result and its first win in the Clipper 2013-14 Race. 

And the yacht has also done the double and won the Race 7 Ocean Sprint too in 18h03m.

Vicky Ellis is the only female skipper competing in the twelve strong fleet race and only the third woman to skipper an entry in the history of the race. 

Skipper Vicky Ellis, 31, said: “We narrowly missed out on the Scoring Gate points and that really gave us the fire and inspiration we needed. We didn’t realise what that had done to us until Derry~Londonderry~Doire popped up behind us 5 miles behind us after a battle to the end. I can’t tell you how good that feels. It was a fantastic and unexpected result.

“I have a great team and they worked their socks off. We had breezy conditions out of Hobart, a Bass Strait gale, a big, bad current and a final bit of tacking up the coast with Derry~Londonderry~Doire and OneDLL. I didn’t get much sleep as I was watching the two boats around me constantly.”

The win will further consolidate the teams hard work after Vicky was awarded the Jane Tate Memorial Trophy at the official prizegiving ceremony of the 69^th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. The trophy is given to the first female skipper over the line in perpetuity since the 50^th edition in 1994.

To view the arrivals images visit the Clipper Race Facebook page or the media gallery. 

Derry~Londonderry~Doire has secured second place after crossing the Race 7 finish line at 10:59 UTC with OneDLL close behind to claim the third podium position at 11:19 UTC. 

Derry~Londonderry~Doire skipper Sean McCarter said: “After six days of full on racing we are delighted to have obtained our second podium finish of the race so far. We gave it our all to get over the line ahead of Switzerland and I am extremely proud of the crew for pushing themselves to the max. 

“The addition of OneDLL hot on our tails also added to the nail-biting finish, as they grabbed third position over the line. Hats off to their team and thanks for putting your foot down to keep us going!

 “We talked about keeping the momentum going and thankfully managed to do it. We were leading a lot of the way and dropped a little bit at the end but it wasn't for the want of trying.”

OneDLL skipper Olly Cotterell said: "We were always aiming to get a Scoring Gate point and another podium and that's what we did and we are ecstatic. We had very varied conditions. Light winds, strong winds, wind on the nose and wind from behind and the guys worked very hard to do many different sail changes. We also had a really strong Australian Eastern Current (EAC) to deal with and really strong competition. It was very tiring and a tough race but it feels really worthwhile now. There was a lot of attention to detail with trim and it really paid off. We were a bit unlucky at the end with our kite but we clawed it back and were only four miles behind Derry~Londonderry~Doire at the end."

Old Pulteney crossed the finish line in fourth place at 15:20 UTC ahead of GREAT Britain in fifth which crossed at 16:35 UTC. 

Jamaica Get All Right crossed the finish line off Moreton Island at 18:02 UTC.

Invest Africa crossed the line at 23:49 UTC ahead of Team Garmin who crossed in eighth place at 02:53 UTC.

Qingdao crossed the Race 7 finish line at 11:11 UTC. 

These results are provisional subject to confirmation by the Race Office and calculation of redress for Qingdao in compensation for assisting Mission Performance at the start of Race 7.

The remainder of the fleet will arrive into Rivergate Marina over the next two days. You can see the latest ETAs here.

The fleet’s progress can be tracked here.