28th July 20187th February 2023

Liverpool Clipper Race 2018

The Liverpool Clipper Race 2018 was an emotional day for many families watching the Clippers return to the River Mersey. In total 712 people representing 41 different nationalities and from all walks of life, took part in the 40,000 nautical miles Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2017-18.

Liverpool 2018 Clipper

History was made as Australian Sailor Wendy Tuck became the first woman to ever to lead a team to win the round the world yacht race, after clinching the overall victory along with the Sanya Serenity Coast team. Also an additional win for women’s sport… second place went to British Sailor Skipper Nikki Henderson, 25, the Skipper of Visit Seattle.

Winner of the Round The World Yacht Race 2018, The Sanya Clipper, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool

The race officially ended with a sprint finish up the River Mersey and towards the Royal Albert Dock and the Liverpool 2018 crew secured a podium place after having clinched another podium position in yesterday’s race from Derry-Londonderry to Liverpool.

Overall, the Liverpool 2018 crew finished ninth and Skipper Lance Shepherd said: “It has just been an incredible journey, I am so honoured to have been Skipper of the Liverpool 2018 team and I am so proud of the team for everything they have achieved.”

Liverpool Clipper Winning The Sprint Finish Up The River Mersey

Chris Denham, from Cheshire and who works in Liverpool, praised the people who came out to welcome the crews home. Chris said: “The welcome home has been brilliant. There’s nothing like a Liverpool welcome home.”

I enjoyed watching the return with three generations of my own family and friends. We all braved the weather with wind, rain, sunny intervals followed by thunder and lightning. All in the name of sailing, but we wouldn’t have missed this remarkable day.