Great mate helps make history
SAILING history was made this week when Australian Wendy Tuck became the first woman to ever win an around-the-world yacht race after clinching the overall victory in the 2017-18 Clipper Race.
Joining Wendy and the crew of Sanya Serenity Coast for the celebrations at Liverpool, England, today will be prominent Hobart yachtsman and Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania member David Graney.
Graney sailed with Wendy in the entire Clipper Race in 2015-16 and at Wendy’s request joined the crew for several Pacific legs of the 2017-18 race as first mate on the yacht.
In an additional win for women’s sport, second place overall has gone to British sailor Nikki Henderson, 25, the skipper of Visit Seattle.
Wendy Tuck and her Sanya Serenity Coast team went into the 13th and final race of the Clipper 2017-18 race on top of the overall standings.
Sanya Serenity Coast then put the result out of reach for the other 10 teams ahead of the sprint finish up the Mersey to Royal Albert Dock Liverpool overnight,
Wendy, 53, who is from Sydney and is a member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, was naturally delighted with the result.
“I can’t believe it,’’ she said after her win was confirmed.
“It hasn’t really sunk in, but I am just so happy. It is so, so special.
“I don’t think it’s about being a woman. It’s just do what I do.
“But I am very proud, and even prouder of my team. They are the ones that did all the work. and considering many had never sailed before, what they have accomplished is incredible.”
Clipper Race founder and chairman Sir Robin KnoxJohnston, the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world, was delighted with the female one-two finish.
“The impact of the success of both Wendy and Nikki cannot be underestimated,’’ he said. “If this gets even one more girl to start sailing and dreaming big, then I’ll consider everything we have done over the last 11 months a huge success.”