Toast to Sherry

Puerto Sherry, the first stopover on the Clipper 2023-24 Race and the event’s first ever visit to Spain, has been hailed a success.

Photography by © Brian Carlin/16 Degrees South/Clipper Race

03 October 2023

On their first visit to Spain, the 11-strong Clipper fleet enjoyed a fun-filled stopover, including prizegiving and sight-seeing.

After leading from an early stage, Perserverance, led by Skipper Ineke van de Weijden, took the honours of winning Race 1.

Yacht Club Punta del Este was first through the Race 1 Scoring Gate, winning extra bonus points and finished strongly in second place.

Host Port Partners gave a fitting warm welcome to the 11 teams, with locally produced sherry waiting for them on arrival.

The inaugural prizegiving of the edition and the wider Puerto Sherry stopover enabled Race Crew the chance to enjoy a schedule of cultural and local impact activities, along with hospitality to relax and recharge ahead of the challenging test that awaited them.

Perseverance arrival with Mariluz, Daniel and Nicolas from the Puerto Sherry team.

Dare To Lead with Daniel and Mariluz from Puerto Sherry and the local yacht club youngsters.

Race Crew members at the archaeological site of a Phoenician settlement dating from the 9th to 2nd centuries BC located in El Puerto de Santa María.

Race Crew on the local beach clean activity.

Open boat tours on Our Isles and Oceans.

Honorary Consul of Uruguay Jesús Otero Rebollo and Yacht Club Punta Del Este Skipper Nano Antia.

Group photo for the raising of the Blue Flag.

Teams gather for prizegiving celebrations.

Authorities and Sponsors join the Clipper Race Office and Puerto Sherry team for Prizegiving.

Speaking at the prizegiving event, Puerto Sherry Director General Nicolas Figueras said “I would like to express our gratitude to the authorities, sponsors, Race Crew and the Clipper Race family for this fantastic prizegiving ceremony. In the name of the Puerto Sherry team, we are proud to host one of the stopovers on this prestigious race for its first time in Spain.

“Thank you for visiting and giving us the opportunity to join the exclusive list of ports, making us a new member of your family. I want to address the teams by saying you are our heroes and I hope you will always keep in mind Puerto Sherry as a part of the Race of Your Life.”

Now the fleet is facing its toughest challenge yet, the Atlantic Ocean.

The teams are competing in Race 2: Hundred Years Cup, having made their way along the African coast and are now in the Doldrums Corridor, tackling their first ocean and equator crossing of the Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race.

The next stop on the Clipper Race route is Punta del Este in Uruguay, where the fleet is expected to arrive from 12 to 16 October having crossed the Atlantic Ocean. This will be the third time that the South American city welcomes the Clipper Race, and the fleet’s arrival will be marking the start of the Yacht Club Punta del Este’s 100th Anniversary celebrations.

clipperroundtheworld.com

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