Race 13 - Day 2
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry to Liverpool
23 July

CV21 crew blog 23 July 2018

We are off again, this time to finish the 2017/18 round the world race. We have 5 days to counter clockwise circumnavigate Ireland and make it to the mouth of the Mersey River. From there, we will have a 20nm sprint and finish in fount of Prince Albert dock in Liverpool Saturday July 28th. Yesterday, everyone is excited to get this final leg underway. We had a wonderful send off from Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland complete with the back drop of smoke coloured coordinated with each boat and what seamed like thousands of enthusiastic, Clipper flag waving, supporters lining the waterfront.

Derry-Londonderry was a fantastic stopover for the crews, each boat was greeted by the dignitaries and bagpipes! Everyone found the people of Derry extremely welcoming and warm. It only took minutes after entering a pub with Clipper branding gear before you were adopted by locals and could settle in for a good crack (conservation). The diversity of historical sites and hiking and touring opportunities made Derry-Londonderry an ideal stop after our Atlantic crossing.

Unicef got off to a great start and for the time being, is leading the pack and dodging fishing floats and accompanying floating lines. We are work our way south along the coast enjoying, from a safe distance, the coastal topography and landscapes of Ireland.

Still wearing long underwear and rain gear, Richard