First woman skipper wins round-world yacht race
AUSTRALIAN Wendy Tuck has become the first woman skipper to win the Clipper Round The World Race.
The 53-year-old and her triumphant Sanya Serenity Coast crew were greeted by thousands when they returned to Liverpool yesterday having completed the 40,000-nautical mile yacht race after setting off from the city 11 months ago.
British sailor Nikki Henderson skippered the boat that finished second, Visit Seattle. At 25, Henderson is also the youngest person to lead a crew in the history of the race. Ms Tuck said she has ‘got to be nothing but positive’ about the final standings, adding: ‘Especially with Nikki coming second, who is 25, that is just an extraordinary accomplishment for her – it is quite amazing.’
After Ms Tuck was thrown into Royal Albert Dock as part of the celebrations, she said she hadn’t even thought about becoming the first woman to win the race as a skipper.
She said: ‘When we set out as a team we wanted to finish on the podium or the top four… to find out the other result [becoming the first successful female skipper] as well – I didn’t even think about that, it wasn’t on the radar at the start all.
‘I am really happy, it still hasn’t sunk in just yet, it is pretty amazing.’
Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, who was in Liverpool to watch the climax of the race, said: ‘What we have had is two phenomenal women in what has been, in the past, a maledominated sport, who will hopefully, go on and inspire other women to get involved.’