English clipper wins first stage

The race will cover 35,000 miles before returning to Liverpool

Liverpool's entry in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has won the first stage of the event.

The Liverpool 08 Clipper sailed across the finishing line at Cascais in Portugal on Sunday morning.

Western Australia finished in second place, about 30 minutes behind the English yacht.

Liverpool Clipper crew member Andy Perry, from Merseyside, said it was a great relief to win after a tense and hard-fought finish.

She said: "Western Australia were bearing down on us very quickly.

Set sail

"They were fortunate to have some wind further out and we were stuck in a windless pocket three miles from the finishing line and not going anywhere."

Race title defenders Jersey finished ninth.

The Liverpool yacht is led by 27-year-old skipper Tim Magee, along with three city residents who won their places through a Liverpool Culture Company competition.

The race set sail from Liverpool's Albert Dock on 18 September.

All 10 yachts taking part will cross 35,000 miles of sea, visiting 12 ports including New York and Brazil before returning to the city next July.

The race is divided into seven separate legs.