Visit Seattle steals victory in Race 8 of Clipper

QINGDAO -- Visit Seattle pulled off a sensational victory after a dramatic twist on Thursday in Race 8 of 2017-18 the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, swooping past PSP Logistics in the final few miles of the race from Sanya to Qingdao.

PSP Logistics, which had led for eight successive days and were 25 nautical miles (nm) ahead at 0900 UTC, succumbed to a wind hole just 30nm from the finish line, allowing Visit Seattle to sneak up on their eastern side to take the race win.

Visit Seattle, led by 24-year-old British Skipper Nikki Henderson, crossed the finish line off the coast of Qingdao at 00:04:11 local time (16:04:11 UTC) to complete the 1,700 nm race in 10 days, 9 hours, 34 minutes and 11 seconds.

"This reflects the hard work and determination and grit displayed by everyone on this boat, we can't hide our elation," Nikki said.

Sanya Serenity Coast took second place after crossing the line at 01:12:58 local time (17:12:58 UTC).

"I didn't know that we had got second till we had finished. I really feel PSP Logistics' pains as we have been there after losing from a 200 nm lead in Race 3," said Wendy Tuck, skipper of Sanya Serenity Coast.

The other nine yachts will arrive in Qingdao on late Thursday and Friday, and all yachts will leave for Seattle on March 23.

The clipper Round the World Yacht Race, held every two years, is the largest amateur yacht race in the world and has visited Qingdao for seventh straight time this year. A total of 712 crew members from 41 countries and regions are participating in the 2017-18 events.