Yachts leave Cork for round the world race

Ten yachts will today leave the world’s oldest yacht club for the final leg of the 56,000 kilometre Clipper round the world race…

Ten yachts will today leave the world’s oldest yacht club for the final leg of the 56,000 kilometre Clipper round the world race.

The vessels spent the last few days at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven after racing across the north Atlantic from Nova Scotia in Canada.

The amateur crews will sail up the Irish Sea to the finish at the Liverpool Bar buoy completing the race over five oceans, around five continents and after calling at 14 ports.

The circumnavigation began in Liverpool on September 16th, 2007 and the return of the fleet to Albert Dock will form part of the city's European Capital of Culture celebrations.

The yachts are backed by cities around the world and crewed by non-professional sailors from 27 different countries.