Race Director's Report
Race 14: Den Helder, the Netherlands to London, UK

Believe it or not, the shortest race of the Clipper 2015-16 Race also took the longest to plan. It was always going to be a tricky affair to plan a course of sufficient length given the prevailing conditions. The forecast all the previous week had been for 12 knots of wind somewhere from the south-west for start day and then increasing as the fleet crossed the North Sea. What actually happened was that the breeze decreased during the race with the result that the fleet averaged 6 knots. However, at one stage with the tide under them, off the coast of Norfolk they were recording speeds of 10 knots though. This allowed the fleet to remain tightly packed.

The lead changed hands several times and there were many personal battles within the fleet with the yachts not quite in a safe position yet, trying to hold the potential interlopers at bay. One such battle was between LMAX Exchange and Derry~Londonderry~Doire. If Derry~Londonderry~Doire could finish 7 places ahead of LMAX Exchange it would move into an overall podium position. No matter what Derry~Londonderry~Doire tried, LMAX Exchange looked comfortable just to be within a place or two back in either third or fourth position. It was a very tall order for Derry~Londonderry~Doire to fulfil and ultimately it couldn’t do it, but they did win Race 14 and the team can hold their heads high with a creditable second overall….well done.

GREAT Britain seemed to be playing with fire during this race. They languished at the rear which made it a very real possibility that Garmin would finish the eight places ahead of them to secure third overall. In fact Garmin finished fifth and GREAT Britain in eleventh, meaning GREAT Britain scored third overall.

The four way tie of Mission Performance, ClipperTelemed+, Qingdao and Da Nang – Viet Nam was the battle I was really interested in. ClipperTelemed+ unfortunately had to airlift off an injured crew member which put pay to its race. Thankfully the crew member was released from hospital shortly after and could re-join the yacht for the Parade of Sail. Serendipitously, the other three finished in order of Qingdao fifth, Mission Performance sixth and Da Nang - Viet Nam in seventh which broke the tie.

So, 30 July marked the end of the Clipper 2015-16 Race. The Parade of Sail up the Thames was nothing short of spectacular with the entire fleet passing through Tower Bridge and then entering St Katharine Docks to much fanfare.

The race has seen ordinary people do something extraordinary. The crew aboard the fleet of Clipper 70s have faced every challenge imaginable from the Doldrums on Race 1 to 80 knot winds in the Southern Ocean. They and the yachts have weathered these challenges superbly and I only have pride and admiration for the Skippers, crews and also Clipper Race Staff who behind the scenes help make the race a reality. I have seen a few homecomings but this was certainly the biggest and most emotional. Well done to all the Skippers and crews of the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race.