Following a challenging 5-day race in which crews faced a whole range of conditions, the Da Nang-Viet Nam team finished the race from Derry-Londonderry (Northern Ireland) to Den Helder (Netherlands) in 3^rd place at 2.17am last Friday (local time).  Visit Seattle won the race and PSP Logistics came second.

Team Da Nang-Viet Nam’s racing yacht

This is the 2^nd time that the Da Nang-Viet Nam team has finished in the top 3 since they won first place in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.  The team is now ranked overall 8^th amongst the race’s 12 teams.

The 700 nautical mile, 5-day Race 13 was the shortest race in the 11 month-long, 14-stage Clipper Race.  However, it was quite a complicated race as the teams had to face high tides and many changes of wind direction.

The skipper of the Da Nang-Viet Nam yacht, Wendy Tuck, said “What a race - it had a bit of everything.  This short racing sure keeps you on your toes but this style of sailing is our strength.  Previously, we had a similar intense, short race in the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race and we came first.  I am really happy with our result and the crew worked hard to get us into third position.  I hope that the city and the people of Da Nang will be proud of our result.”

The Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, Mr Dang Viet Dung, congratulated Australian skipper Wendy Tuck and the crew on their fantastic result in such a challenging race, saying that the team’s hard work had paid off.  He wished the team all the best for a remarkable result in the final race from Den Helder to London.  He added that the city leaders are eager to welcome the crew in London.

After finishing the Race 13, the participating teams have a few days off before beginning the final race from Den Helder on 28 July and ending in London on 30 July.