Photos & Video: Clipper Round World Race
[Updated] The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet is starting to arrive in Bermuda this morning [June 13], with ‘Visit Sanya, China’ crossing the finish line in first, claiming the victory into Bermuda, while ‘GoToBermuda’ finished in second place, doubling its points and claiming another consecutive podium place, and the team’s highest place in the 2019-20 edition.
Update: The live broadcast has concluded and the 53-minute replay is below
Update 8.05am: GoToBermuda secured their best finish of the 2019-2020 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race after coming second in Race 12 today.
The team sailed into its home port at 04:09:33 UTC, playing its Joker Card to double its points, claiming another consecutive podium place, and adding an extra bonus point from a third-place Scoring Gate result.
David Immelmann, skipper of GoToBermuda said during the approach to the island: “Bermuda has been our goal since we originally left London, which seems like aeons ago, but it was three years ago.
“As we’ve been slowly but surely making our way around the world, it has been where we’ve wanted to get to, and in a funny sort of way, we’re 36 hours out, and it actually seems unreal. It seems, ‘is this real? Somebody pinch me’.
“We’re very excited to get there. We’re very excited to see the island. I know those who’ve been there say it’s absolutely wonderful. A lot of us, myself included, have loved ones waiting there for us. We’re sailing fast and trying to get there as quickly as possible.”
Update | Aerial footage of the winner arriving
Visit Sanya, China crossed the finish line in first place at 01:47:25, led by skipper Mike Miller and first mate Mary Vaughan-Jones.
It was their first win of the 2019-20 Clipper Race and Miller’s first podium as skipper of Visit Sanya, China.
In addition to the 11 points earned from the victory, the team will gain an extra two points from crossing the Scoring Gate in second.
Mike Light, Clipper Race director, said: “Huge congratulations to skipper Mike, AQP Mary and the whole team of Visit Sanya, China. What a tremendous result for the team after an utterly fascinating race.
“After 1,700nm of intense racing with so many twists and turns along the way, the team deserve all the plaudits for making a brilliant move out west and overhauling the pack to the east in the closing stages. Well done, a fantastic result and very well deserved.”
Clinching the final podium spot was WTC Logistics, led by 24-year-old skipper Dan Jones and supported by AQP Ineke van der Weijden. The team crossed the finish line at 05:31.
Like GoToBermuda, the WTC Logistics elected to play the Joker Card and doubled their race points. They also scooped three additional bonus race points for being the first to reach the Scoring Gate.
Crossing the finish line just seven minutes later, at 05:38, was Punta del Este who battled to fourth place.
Juan Etcheverrito, Yacht Club Punta del Este Commodore, said: “After a rough start, we were tearful, but you proved us wrong. Giving up is never an option on the yellow beauty, and here we are, once again, celebrating! Well done, Punta! Thanks, and enjoy Bermuda!
Update | Photos of the first arrivals below, they were greeted by Tourism Minister Vance Campbell, Interim BTA CEO Tracy Berkeley and members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment Band. We will have additional coverage later of the other boats, and you can read more about this week’s activities involving the Clipper event here.
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