Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet docks in Derry
The ships are exptected to arrive from 10:30am
Last updated 12th Jul 2022
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet is set to arrive in Londonderry a day ahead of schedule.
The first yacht is due to sail up the Foyle at 10.30am today (Wednesday).
Derry man Gerard Doherty and eight other non-professional sailors from Ireland and Northern Ireland are among the eleven teams who have taken on the challenge of a lifetime, battling the most challenging conditions in a 40,000 nautical mile (nm) race for glory across the globe.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy, said ahead of the fleets arrival there was a real anticipation and buzz.
She said: "The first sign of the yachts as they make their way up the Foyle generates a huge buzz and the crew can expect a tremendous reception when they step on to the Quayside.
"The fact that so many of the fleet are arriving in such a short space of time will really add to the excitement and I know we're all looking forward to welcoming our own crew member Gerard Doherty home after his epic adventure.
“I hope to see lots of people turning out to give Gerard and all the Clipper crew a very warm Derry welcome."
Several of the Irish crew are sailing on board the Ha Long Bay, Vietnam entry, including Gerard, who is sailing over 15,000nm on Legs 6, 7 and 8 of the races.
This is the penultimate race of its circuit, dubbed The LegenDerry Finale, and the stopover in Derry is famous among the Clipper Race crew for the LegenDerry welcome that follows the arduous journey from New York.
This year marks the tenth year of partnership between the Clipper Race and the city, and the fifth time the event's fleet will be a key feature of the internationally renowned Foyle Maritime Festival.
The event is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the City from July 20-24.
The Foyle is normally the focal point of the celebrations and this year the festival programme carries a strong environmental message, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation, sustainability, and the need to reduce and reuse plastics.
The programme focuses on 'What Lies Beneath' and a series of activities and interactive experiences that aims to engage young people and help raise awareness about the plight of our rivers, seas, and oceans.
During the Foyle Maritime Festival, several practical measures have been introduced to reduce waste and make recycling more convenient for visitors.
Festival Co-ordinator with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Helena Hasson, revealed more.
She said: "This year we really wanted to drive home the message that we all have a responsibility to do more to conserve and promote the recovery of our marine environment."
"We're working closely with our partners in the Loughs Agency, Foyle Port and Harbour, and agencies such as Keep NI Beautiful and Zero Waste Northwest to raise awareness and offer practical ways to make a positive impact.
"We're encouraging everyone to avail of the facilities in place such as the water refill stations, and we are asking all our traders at the festival to minimise packaging where possible and to avoid single use plastics.
“Compost bins will also be provided for food vendors, and we will have Waste Champions on site reminding people to dispose of their rubbish responsibly.
"Zero Waste Northwest will be promoting their Nappy Library scheme and the benefits of reusable baby care products.
A beverage return scheme will also be in operation at the festival bars and we have 10,000 reusable cups available for £1 each – you get the money back when you return your cup.
“We hope that all these small measures will ensure our event helps to raise awareness and promote a greater understanding of the world around us."
Textile Waste will also be on the agenda, as the biggest environmental pollutant on the planet next to plastics.
Installations will feature in the festival programme led by Keep NI Beautiful a part of their ongoing campaign against disposable fashion and the promotion of buying pre-loved clothing.
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