Wendy Tuck chasing sailing history as first female skipper to win Clipper Race
A DAY after a trio of women celebrated winning the Volvo round the world race for the first time, Australian skipper Wendy Tuck is ready to embark on her own chase for sporting history.
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A DAY after three women celebrated on the victory dais at the end of a Volvo round the world race for the first time, Australian skipper Wendy Tuck is ready to embark on her own chase for sporting history.
The Sydney to Hobart sailor is in the box seat to become the first female skipper to win the Clipper round the world race if she can fend off her nearest rivals in the final stage of the race - a gruelling rush across the North Atlantic Ocean from New York to Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland starting Wednesday.
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Last race Tuck, in charge of an ever-changing and predominantly novice crew in the race, was the first Australian female skipper to take control of a Clipper yacht in the 10-month, 40,0000 nautical mile odyssey.
This time she is one of two with the youngest ever Clipper skipper, Nikki Henderson, 24, in third place heading into the final leg and still capable of being part of a historic one-two for female skipper.
“I’m not getting ahead of myself but I would be so proud to be the first woman to win the Clipper Race. I’m a proud Australian and there’s nothing better than flying the flag all over the world,’’ Tuck said.
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“Although it’s super important to race as hard as possible to retain the lead, I am looking forward to the last ocean race.
“But it will be kind of sad to think it is the last one. Some of the team has been sailing with me since August last year so it will be really good fun.’’
The Clipper Race was founded in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world in 1968-69.
This edition the race included the Sydney to Hobart in December as a major leg of the its circumnavigation of the world.
On Monday, Carolijn Brouwer, Marie Riou and Justine Mettraux were part of the Dongfeng crew which won the Volvo ocean race - the first women to achieve the feat following the introduction of a new rule to encourage mixed crew racing.