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Victorious Derry yacht returns home following transatlantic race win

The first crews from the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race arrived in the Foyle marina this morning.

Clipper2014Derry2306149 Dolphins greeted the victorious Derry-Londonderry-Doire crew on their arrival. Martin McKeown / clipperroundtheworld.com Martin McKeown / clipperroundtheworld.com / clipperroundtheworld.com

THOUSANDS OF spectators turned out in Derry this morning to welcome home the victorious crew of a transatlantic yacht race.

The Derry-Londonderry-Doire yacht won the 2850-mile leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race which started in New York a fortnight ago.

The series sees 12 identical yachts compete in 16 races across the globe, taking in 40,000 miles and destinations including Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and Panama.

The win breaks a six-year ‘curse’ since the last time a crew won their homecoming leg in 2008.

“After almost 40,000 miles it’s unbelievable to be sailing into Derry-Londonderry and even more so in first place,” victorious skipper Sean McCarter said.

“We have had several boats come out to meet us at 6am this morning and the flotilla has been growing ever since.”

The fleet’s arrival coincides with the LegenDerry Maritime Festival which kicked off on Saturday.

Derval O’Rourke has retired from athletics

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    Mute pandapoints
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 1:37 PM

    Well done to the Derry clipper, amazing atmosphere in Derry to welcome the crew home!

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    Mute Jean Martin
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 8:07 PM

    well done to my beautiful city of Derry.

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    Mute Shane Hickey
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 1:38 PM

    Any word on the missing British sailors from last month or have they just been left to their fate?

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 2:10 PM

    Talk about luxury? Priorities need to be revisited as some people are homeless and the kids are still being abused. Hard to believe that people on welfare are helping to pay for this as the cuts are being made to finance sailing for professional sports people.

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    Mute David Cagney
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 2:26 PM

    Rubbish comment.
    There’s no luxury on a clipper boat – they’re horrible,
    What on earth does child abuse and homelessness have to do with sport?
    How are people on welfare paying for any of this?
    All of the crew on this boat are self financed non professionals.
    There’s as much financial irregularity in this game as a family on a sun holiday in Spain.

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    Mute Richard Rodgers
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 3:44 PM

    David
    When someone comes on these pages and uses a nom de plume such as Mindfulirish you are immediately aware that the individual need to hide his or her identity. When you read the contributions this poor individual offers you will quickly see that there is a deficit but not bad enough to eliminate self awareness and thus we have a classical idiot filling his day.
    This sporting achievement is a wonderful tribute to the whole Team behind the effort and it’s great to see so many local people showing their appreciation by welcoming the winners home!

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    Mute David Cagney
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 3:46 PM

    As achievement goes – I couldn’t agree more.

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