A view of the yacht Glasgow Clipper, nestled in the picturesque Port Antonio Harbour on Sunday. The yacht is one of 10 that are sailing around the world. From Jamaica, they will head to New York. - PHOTO BY BARBARA ELLINGTON
AT 9 O'CLOCK last Saturday evening, the first of 10 Dubois 68-foot yachts sailed over the finishing line at Port Antonio to mark the end of leg six in the Clipper-Ventures Round the World Yacht Race.
This is the fourth of such races run by Clipper-Ventures where those with generally no experience of sailing climb aboard to experience the adventure of circumnavigating the world. The boat sponsorship formula pits nation against nation. Taking part this year are Durban, New York, Western Australia, Singapore, Qingdao, Victoria, Jersey, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Glasgow. This new format has opened further avenues for race partners to be involved with their
affiliated teams.
Friends and families of the crew members waited anxiously for the arrival of their loved ones at the Port Antonio Marina, some until the early hours of the morning when Glasgow, being sponsored by Glasgow City Council to promote their bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, sailed into the harbour about 2:00 a.m.
GUESTS COOLED DOWN
At a party held at Belmont Villas in Port Antonio on Sunday afternoon, guests cooled down from the heat with a selection of drinks from the bar and enjoyed barbecue, which included some local favourites, including jerk chicken, shrimp and festivals.
British High Commissioner Jeremy Creswell and his partner Dr. Barbara Munske were joined by other guests, including some from the British High Commission, showing their support with tartan sashes, members of the police force and, of course, some of the Glasgow crew members and their families.
While some guests were entertained by a local band, others enjoyed a ride out to the Glasgow Clipper to meet more of the crew and get a glimmer of living on a yacht for 10 months.
- Lianne Robinson
