GoToBermuda Take Third Place In Race 11

GoToBermuda has claimed its first podium finish in the Seattle Pacific Challenge after finishing third in the latest stage of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

After an exceptionally close contest, with a nail-biting wait over the past few days for the final results, GoToBermuda finished behind Punta del Este in second and Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam in first.

The GoToBermuda team arrive in Panama

The elapsed time race saw the fleet frontrunners neck and neck over the stage’s multiple Finish Gates and Qingdao making fast progress after starting the race later than the rest of the teams.

Once all teams crossed Finish Gate 3, the Clipper Race Office calculated each yacht’s elapsed time result.

Just over an hour separated the top two spots, despite being a 3,078 nautical-mile slog from the Le Mans Start line to Finish Gate 3.

Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam completed the race in 431hr 18min 53sec. Hot on its heels, Punta del Este logged an elapsed time of 432:39:17, while GoToBermuda, in the leading pack for the whole race, finished in an impressive 433:05:27.

Matt Stephens

David Immelman, skipper of GoToBermuda said: “Finally… we have been so close so many times and even had a third taken away and now we’ve got it! It’s wonderful, the crew worked so hard and they are now getting recognition for all their effort. It was a tough race and not helped by me sending us on a safari, chasing wind that did not appear but we clawed back with the tenacity I’ve come to love in this crew.

“They are delighted and so they should be, it is a great achievement.”

Ahead of the team racing to Bermuda, Bermuda Tourism Authority chief executive, Charles Jeffers II said: “We are proud to welcome the Clipper Race and our GoToBermuda crew home. We congratulate all the crews and invite the teams to relax and enjoy all that Bermuda has to offer during their brief break from this exciting round the world race.”

GoToBermuda team racing on Race 11

After some very fast downwind sailing for the first weeks of racing, then fickle and sometimes no wind, searing temperatures and incredible tactics, the fleet put on a great show for those watching at home with numerous battles for the Finish Gates, and immensely close racing.

The first stage of Leg 7: The USA Coast-to-Coast Leg was a mix of chilly temperatures as the fleet left Seattle, warming up immensely as the fleet progressed south along the west coast of the US and Mexico.

Matt Stephens, Bermuda ambassador sailing on his team yacht said: “The race was absolutely amazing, I had a lot of fun! We had amazing sailing down the west coast of the US, we have a great crew and a really fast boat and we had a great time!”

Elapsed time

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