Sailor wins round-the-world race

A skipper from south west Scotland has crossed the finish line in first place after a round-the-world yacht race.

Duggie Gillespie, 41, of Kirkcudbright, took his boat - New York - into the River Mersey to end the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in Liverpool.

Mr Gillespie joined the New York in October after the original skipper suffered a leg injury.

The crew of the Glasgow: Scotland with style finished in third place after the 35,000 mile event.

About 400 people crewing 10 Clipper yachts took part in the race around the globe.

The competition started in Liverpool last September, racing to Brazil, South Africa, Australia, China, Hawaii, through the Panama Canal to Jamaica, New York Nova Scotia, Cork before returning to Liverpool.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, the first man to sail son-stop single-handedly around the world, founded the Clipper race in 1995.

Each Clipper yacht and team is sponsored by a "home" city.

"You'll have to see me in the pub later on - after a few pints I'll be crying my eyes out"
Ross Harris
Glasgow crew member

Arriving in Liverpool, Mr Gillespie said: "We'd been pushing behind Hull and Humber, working really hard - teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, all the time - and it was relief when we crossed the line.

"And it's only now, when you come in here and there's I don't know how many thousands of people, you think well, we've actually done it. We've won the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race."

He also paid tribute to the "phenomenal" Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper crew at the evening reception.

Glasgow's boat was the only one led by a female skipper.

Hannah Jenner said: "We're very, very proud of third place. We're delighted to have the boat not just on the podium for a single race for the first time in four campaigns, but overall, which is what we set out to achieve and we've achieved it."

Glasgow crew member Ross Harris, an accountant from Glasgow, said: "I think it's been outstanding, it's been everything I could possibly have hoped for.

"I thought it would be an emotional homecoming but it's just been great to see everybody. You'll have to see me in the pub later on - after a few pints I'll be crying my eyes out."

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Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
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