News

Hull & Humber wins North Sea Race into home port

26 July 2007

Crossing the finish line at 13.14 BST Hull & Humber won the race for the Wilberforce Challenge Cup ahead of the nine other 68-foot Clipper yachts.  After 17 hours of extremely close racing in strong winds the Yorkshire Forward sponsored Hull & Humber crossed the finish line near Spurn Point just 7.5 minutes ahead of westernaustralia2011.com.

The North Sea Race for the Wilberforce Challenge Cup started at the mouth of the River Maas yesterday evening and the fleet raced through the night battling stormy waters and force six winds.  The crew of Hull & Humber worked hard to move into the lead this morning and held onto their advantage to secure a historic victory. 

“It was a lively race with blustery conditions to start and the fleet crossing each other at close quarters during the night,” said Hull & Humber skipper Danny Watson.  “But the crew go their just rewards for doing everything throughout the race.  It’s a really proud moment to win the Wilberforce Challenge Cup into the home port of Hull & Humber.”

The provisional race results have been announced as:
1st Hull & Humber 12:14 BST
2nd westernaustralia2011.com 12:22 BST
3rd Clipper 10 12:38:BST
4th Durban 2010 12:45 BST
5th Glasgow: Scotland with style 12:55 BST
5th Qingdao 12:55 BST
7th Liverpool 08 13:02 BST
8th New York 13:04 BST
9th Clipper 6 13:11 BST
10th Uniquely Singapore TBC

The results will be confirmed by the Clipper Race Committee when the fleet arrive in Hull at 16:30 BST tomorrow. 

Clipper Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who arrives in Hull this evening, said:

‘This is very encouraging for the Hull & Humber crew early in their campaign. It will serve as a great encouragement for them to have won into their home port ahead of the race start in September.”

Sir Robin will join Yorkshire Forward Chair Terry Hodgkinson for prize giving which will take place at 8.00 pm on Friday at the Plaza in Humber Quays.  Also joining them will be the Great Britain Olympic Europe Class representative Laura Baldwin in recognition that the fleet will arrive in Hull exactly five years before the start of the London 2012 Olympics.  The skipper and crew of Hull & Humber will be presented with the Wilberforce Challenge Cup, a specially designed Wedgewood Trophy in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.

Chair of the Hull & Humber steering group Jim Dick said “Hull & Humber’s victory is fantastic news and I would to offer the crew our warmest congratulations on a magnificent result.  We look forward to welcoming Hull & Humber and her crew into the marina tomorrow and celebrating with them their superb victory.”

The arrival of the Clipper fleet will mark the start of a weekend of festivities in Hull in recognition of the work of the late local MP William Wilberforce who was instrumental in the abolition of the slave trade.

Clipper Ventures Plc is the marine events company that runs the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race also owns the rights to Zapcat Racing, the world’s largest one-design powerboat racing series. The Clipper International Weekend in Hull will also play host to the 2007 Zapcat National Championship Hull & Humber Grand Prix.

Visit Clipper Round The World Yacht Race for more exciting updates.