SPORT - Australia House displays Clipper 09-10 trophy
The crystal glass trophy awarded to
following the sailing team’s overall victory in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race has been presented to Western Australia’s London-based Agent General, Kerry Sanderson. The trophy will take pride-of-place in Australia House, London for the next two years before it is awarded to the winner of the Clipper 11-12 race in July 2012.
The Clipper Race was established in 1995 and is about to enter its eighth edition. It is the only global sailing challenge that is open to amateur crew and the team representing
Australia
was led by
Brisbane-born skipper Brendan Hall.
Backed by support from the city of Geraldton-Greenough, the Broadwater Mariner Resort and the Government of Western Australia Mid West Development Commission, the team finished 22 points ahead of their nearest rivals — a huge margin in the history of the race, and the second time that an Australian entry has won the Clipper Race overall.
Sanderson welcomed the team, saying, “Your win was an outstanding achievement and it’s a proud moment for us to celebrate. It’s a wonderful trophy and very many congratulations. You were the guys that won it, but we’ll look after it for you.
“It was an epic achievement to beat nine other crews to the finish line after a 35,000-mile circumnavigation and one that I am sure you are all very proud of.
“I was delighted to be present at the finish in
Hull,
which was a spectacular day with huge crowds. This is a great yacht race to be part of and your achievement marks the second win for Australia
echoing the win by
Western Australia
2011.com
in 2005. It clearly shows that we are a strong yachting nation,” she said.
Regional food and wine was served at the reception and the crew were quick to sing the praises of the welcome they received in Geraldton last December. The race arrived at the mid-west port after a three-week crossing of the Southern Ocean from Cape Town. The entire town turned out to welcome the crews in and on Christmas Day, families offered to ‘adopt’ crew members for the day so that they could be part of a traditional celebration. A parade through the town was followed by a civic reception and on the eve of race start, a spectacular firework display lit up the night sky.
For the first time in the race’s history, Clipper 11-12 will visit ports on both the west and east coast of
Australia, adding another great cape to the route when they round
Cape
Leeuwin, WA,
en-route to
New Zealand. It is hoped that another Australian entry will be able to compete in the 10-strong race fleet and allow the ‘Boxing Kangaroo’ to defend its title.
Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race
FINAL POSITIONS
1. Spirit of
Australia
128 points
2. Team
Finland
105.3 points
3.
Cape
Breton Island
104 points
4. Hull & Humber
98 points
5. Jamaica Lightning Bolt
98 points
6. Uniquely Singapore
76 points
7.
Qingdao
74 points
8. Cork
56.8 points
9.
Edinburgh
Inspiring Capital
53 points
10.
California
42 points
Photo: Spirit of Australia skipper Brendan Hall presenting the Clipper Race Trophy to Agent General Kerry Sanderson; Spirit of Australia
crew celebrating their overall victory of Clipper 09-10.