Crew morale good on Jersey yacht

The yachts are due to return to Liverpool next July

A disappointing result in the first event of the Round the World Yacht Race has not dampened morale on the Jersey Clipper, the skipper has said.

Difficult conditions at sea and a medical evacuation when a crew member broke his ankle delayed the yacht's arrival at Cascais in Portugal.

The second stage of the first leg to Salvador in Brazil starts on Wednesday.

Skipper Mark Taylor said despite being ninth out of 10 yachts, there was still plenty of time to catch up

The strategy is to continue sailing the boat as well as the first leg Mark Taylor, Skipper

He said: "We got stuck the wrong side of a weather system, but although we were in ninth place the crew was not at all disappointed.

"They sailed the boat exceptionally well and led at the start. After the medivac we got up to fifth place, so although the result was ninth place they're not disheartened.

"In terms of the next race, the strategy is to continue sailing the boat as well as the first leg."

Last week, crew member Peter Mourant underwent an operation on a broken ankle after being taken from the yacht by a Fishguard lifeboat. He has now been flown back to Jersey

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race set sail from Liverpool's Albert Dock on 18 September.

The 10 competing yachts will cross 35,000 miles of sea, visiting 12 ports including New York and Brazil before returning to Liverpool next July.

Jersey is the defending champion.