​An Arrival to Remember for Sanya Serenity Coast

It’s been an arrival to remember forSanya Serenity Coast, after the team claimed fourth place following an early morning arrival in its home port.

The stars were still out when Skipper Wendy Tuck and her Sanya Serenity Coast team crossed the finish line at 02:21:30 on Friday 23 February local time (Thursday 22 February 18:21:30 UTC), just four minutes behind Dare To Lead, who finished in second place despite crossing the line in third due to a redress.

Sanya Serenity Coast maintained its place at the top of the fleet whilst it battled its way through soaring temperatures and hindering wind holes on the 4,300 nautical mile race course from the Whitsundays in Australia. Dare To Lead overtook Sanya Serenity Coast in the final hours of the race from the Whitsundays, Australia, to Sanya, and Skipper Wendy says: “We knew we had a big task in front of us, and whilst we didn’t quite do as well as we wanted to, we held the others off.

“We concentrated on getting here in front of Unicef as we knew that Dare To Lead might beat us with the redress. Our game plan was to beat Unicef so we are happy.”

The team was given a welcome to remember at the Sanya Serenity Coast Marina and Wendy says: “It has been incredible, fireworks at the finish line, fireworks coming in.

“I’m really looking forward to a chance to relax and see some sights.”

Crew member Victor Ansart, a 26-year-old Electrical Engineer from the USA, adds: “When we were coming there was a bunch of boats out to meet us for the arrival so it was really cool to be greeted by all the people of Sanya, they were all cheering us on and lighting us up with spotlights so it really was a great arrival.”

The third place in Race 7 has earned Wendy and Sanya Serenity Coast nine points, which keeps the team on top of the standings with six races remaining in the Clipper 2017-18 Race. Sanya Serenity Coast is also yet to play its Joker Card.

To follow the progress of the rest of the Clipper Race fleet to Sanya, keep an eye on the Race Viewer or check the latest ETAS. Weather permitting, all arrivals will be broadcast on the Clipper Race Facebook Live Page.

For more information about the inaugural Clipper Race Stopover in Sanya, please visit the en.sanyatour.com.