The Derry “LondonDerry” Doire has left Rio and is facing strong winds and seas at the start of Race 3 to Cape town at the start of the 3,900 mile South Atlantic crossing to Cape Town.
Reports are coming in of gale force winds creating big sea rollers which is in contrast to the light winds of Race 2.
The fleet departed Marina da Gloria yesterday afternoon with Old Pulteney crossing the line first ahead of the Derry Cliiper, closely followed by PSP Logistics.
However, the Henri Lloyd has moved from fifth across the line to take the lead with the Derry “LondonDerry” Doire a close second.
The yachts are heading south east where they will continue for several days before moving east under the South Atlantic high.
Derry Clipper skipper Sean McCarter said the crew enjoyed their stop-over in Rio which provided the chance to prepare for Race 3.
He said “Rio has been very good to Derry-‘LondonDerry’-Doire. The team did a great job of managing the balance between preparing the boat for the next leg whilst ensuring to get enough rest an recuperation.”
Sean said a “special thanks” was due to Peter O’Neil, an Irish ex-pat who has been based in Rio since travelling there as a young man to see the carnival.
Sean said: “Forty-odd years later and he is a friend of the Irish Ambassador and now an honorary member of Derry-‘LondonDerry’-Doire.”
He also thanked Leg 1 crew members who, he said, did a “fantastic job” during the first two races and also stayed around for the week to help out.
He added: “Susie Richards, ran the cockpit and a dab hand on the helm, was one of the loveliest and most enthusiastic crew. Olga Bagley, already a great racer and is now a great helm. Adrian Hathaway, without whom we might still be back in Gosport fitting a watermaker!
“Steve Lovett, another of the distinguished engineering department and all round great guy. John Gray, our aeronautics and technical guru and an absolute weapon on the helm.”
Sean added the Derry Clipper was now “screaming” south, south easterly at between 10 to16 knots boat speed.
He added: “There is quite a lot of traffic and we are dodging oil rigs that resemble giant Christmas trees on steroids. Several of the fleet have also had to dodge a seismic research vessel towing five miles worth of gear.
“We have 20 to 30 knots of breeze forecast for the next couple of days then a low pressure system coming east off South America to contend with. Until tomorrow.”
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