Clipper Yacht Race 3 (Brazil to South Africa)

The Qingdao Clipper took 6th place over Welcome to Yorkshire in a close race to the finish in Cape Town, South Africa. The Qingdao Clipper, representing China’s Olympic Sailing City, lost the intense battle to finish line with Derry-Londonderry during the last stretch to Cape Town at the end of the 3,390-mile race from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Gold Coast Australia celebrated their third yellow pennant of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2011-2012.

Qingdao’s skipper, Ian Conchie, said, “It’s been a duel all the way in up until the last six hours when we got ahead of them. In very light airs we found yet another wind hole as we approached Cape Town and then on the final gybe, less than a mile from the finish, the wind shifted on us which meant we could no longer hold the kite and they just sneaked in front of us. We were 50 metres off the beach – it was an exhilarating stuff after 3,300 miles.”

Off the distant shores of Africa, Albatrosses swoop above their heads, whales are a common sights and crews marveled at the clarity of the night sky as they took in the Southern Cross for the first time.

The overall standings after race 3 are as follows:
1  Gold Coast Australia – 32 points
2  Visit Finland – 24 points
3  Singapore – 24 points
4  Welcome to Yorkshire – 23 points
5  New York – 18 points
6  De Lage Landen – 18 Points
7  Qingdao – 14 points
8  Derry-Londonderry – 14 points
9  Geraldton Western Australia – 8 points
10  Edinburgh Inspiring Capital – 4 points

Photo © Bruce Sutherland/onEdition