Clash of the Legends - Canadian yachtsman wins in Cape Breton

by Clipper Ventures PLC on 16 Jun 2010 Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race stopover in Sydney’s Cape Breton Island on Tuesday saw three renowned ocean racers gather for the Cape Breton Island Clash of the Legends as part of the stopover festivities.

The three are part of the elite band of sports men and women who have completed solo circumnavigations under sail. Fewer than 200 people have succeeded at what is still one of the toughest challenges on the planet – more people have flown into space.

Competing for the Benromach Cape Breton Clash of Legends Trophy were Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, first man to sail alone and non-stop around the world in 1969. Sir Robin is the founder and chairman of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, which is currently enjoying a nine-day stopover on the Nova Scotian island.

Joining Sir Robin on the start line were two Canadian ocean racers. John Hughes was the first Canadian to sail solo around the world in 1986 when he competed in the BOC Challenge, a fore-runner of the Velux 5 Oceans race.

Dismasted in the Southern Ocean, John elected to sail around Cape Horn under jury rig, rather than give up on the chance of finishing the race. He was the youngest of the 26 competitors to take part and one of only 16 to finish, a feat that earned him the title of CYA Rolex Sailor of the Year on his return to Nova Scotia.

His countryman and Canada’s most successful ocean racer, Derek Hatfield, is preparing his campaign to complete a second solo circumnavigation. The former Mountie has already succeeded in the 2003 Around Alone race and is now in Nova Scotia preparing his yacht, Spirit of Canada, for the Velux 5 Oceans race which starts in La Rochelle in October.

In lively conditions, with steady winds of 18 knots, gusting up to 38 knots, the three veteran yachtsmen and their crews took to the water on board three of the Clipper 68s competing in Clipper 09-10; Sir Robin in charge of Hull & Humber, Derek Hatfield taking the helm of Cape Breton Island, and John Hughes on boardQingdao.

The three yachts are representative of the tripartite trade agreement that has been established between the three regions as a result of their participation in Clipper 09-10.

After a brief training session the starting siren sounded at noon and the race was on. And, while the three men are good friends off the water, on the water it quickly became apparent that it was a no-holds-barred contest, the three yachts coming within inches of each other as they tacked up the narrow course towards the first mark to the delight of the spectators on shore.

While Derek Hatfield on Cape Breton Island got the best of the start, John Hughes on Qingdao quickly chased him down until Sir Robin on Hull & Humber squeezed between the pair of them they put in the first tack.

It was John Hughes who got ahead by the first mark and pulled out a lead that proved impossible to beat, although Sir Robin joked, 'If there’d been another lap we’d have got you on the next one!'

As they traded good natured quips at the prize giving for the presentation race, John laughed, 'Another lap would only have caused you more embarrassment!'

The crystal trophy was presented to John Hughes by Michael Urquhart of Benromach Speyside Single Malt Whisky, the official whisky of the Clipper 09-10 Race, and for Sir Robin and Derek Hatfield, second and third respectively, there were special edition bottles of whisky.

The Clipper fleet will sail from Sydney on Saturday 19 June on the final transatlantic crossing of the race and are due to arrive in Kinsale, Ireland, between first and 4th July. Cork will begin the pursuit race from Sydney on Thursday 17 June.

For more information, please visit: www.clipperroundtheworld.com