Derry Mayor Welcomes Home Clipper Round the World Sailor Gerard Doherty

26th July 2022

Gerard Doherty was welcomed home by Mayor Sandra Duffy and hundreds on the quayside Credit: Tom Heaney

Gerard Doherty has said in a Foyle Maritime Festival social media video that he was the oldest crew member on the Clipper Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). He is 68 years old, and not only is he the 'senior' of the 18 crew onboard the clipper boat, but when he joined, he was a complete novice sailor, and Derry Now reports that Gerard is the only person from Derry in the race.

In the previous stopover in New York, Gerard said the "big bonus of being in New York was that it was closest to beautiful Derry", and the penultimate stop was especially emotional for him.

Mayor Sandra Duffy greeted Gerard on his arrival, and hundreds of onlookers were there to welcome him at Foyle Marina.

Gerard Doherty (pictured centre) on the Ha Long Bay, Vietnam boat. Photo: Jean Marcus Strole

In his Facebook post, he also said, "Doing the Clipper Race has made me appreciate everything I have in my life. Being at sea has been the longest I have been away from my family and two daughters". He had been on the voyage for 80 days.

And the Derry Journal reports that "There were extra special cheers for Gerard at the special prizegiving event held on the quay on Wednesday evening, where the local man was named his crew's winner for the 'Spirit of a Derry Girl' award. In nominating Gerard, his crew told how he has represented and promoted the City of Derry".
The fleet hadn't been in Derry since 2018, the gap forced by the Pandemic, but this visit is the fifth maritime celebration of its kind to be held in the City. It marks the tenth anniversary since the Council first partnered with Clipper Ventures as a host port in the internationally acclaimed Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

The race is scheduled to finish at the Royal Albert Dock in London on Saturday 30th July.

Published in Clipper Race, Maritime Festivals

Published in Clipper Race

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Clipper Round The World Race

About The Author

Betty Armstrong

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Betty Armstrong is Afloat and Yachting Life's Northern Ireland Correspondent. Betty grew up racing dinghies but now sails a more sedate Dehler 36 around County Down

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About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.