Sydney sailor Wendy Tuck makes history with victory in Clipper Race
SYDNEY sailor Wendy Tuck has claimed a slice of world sailing history as the first female skipper to ever win a round the world yacht race.
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UPDATE: SYDNEY sailor Wendy Tuck has claimed a slice of world sailing history as the first female skipper to ever win a round the world yacht race.
Tuck was late Friday night on course to complete the final leg of the 40,000 nautical mile Clipper Race across six oceans at the helm of the 70-foot yacht Sanya Serenity Coast.
A rival’s failure to finish top four delivered Tuck the victory while she was still at sea heading to Liverpool at the end of the final 900nm dash from Londonderry.
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“I can’t believe it. It hasn’t really sunk in really but I am just so happy,” Tuck told the Daily Telegraph from off her yacht.
“It is so, so special.
“I hate banging on about women. I just do what I do. But I am very proud.
“If one little girl sees this, sees it can be done and has a go, that will be what matters to me.”
Tuck’s feat has earned high praise from sailing legend and Clipper Race founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.
“I’ve known Wendy for years. She was a skipper in the last edition, the 2015-16 race, and is one of the finest skippers — man or woman — that I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” said Knox-Johnson, the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world.
A veteran of 10 Sydney to Hobart yacht races, Tuck lead home a historic female one-two in the Clipper Race.
Second place getter, Nikki Henderson, grabbed her own slice of history as the youngest female skipper to compete and complete the race.
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“I don’t see Nikki as a female competitor, I just see her as a really good sailor,” Tuck said.
“I think her age is more incredible than her gender.
“I always say at 24 I couldn’t even look after myself let alone skipper a 70-foot yacht full of crew and go round the world.”
Tuck, a professional skipper who has lead an ever-changing crew of mostly novice sailors in the race, produced six podium finishes en-route to her overall win.
The race started in August last year and has visited ports including Cape Town, Fremantle, Sydney, Hobart, Sanya, Qingdao, Seattle, Panama, New York and Derry-Londonderry.
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