Clipper race crew members complete race six of journey

Three teams that incude people from the area, UNICEF, PSP Logistics and Mission Performance, finished in seventh, tenth and twelfth place respectively.

Mission Performance, currently stands in fifth place in terms of the overall race despite coming twelfth in this leg.

They were awarded seven extra points to reflect the disadvantage they experienced after answering a distress call to help the crew of a yacht that wasn’t competing.

Skipper Greg Miller, from Gosport, said: ‘Of course, it is unfortunate that we ended up twelfth. After winning the Ocean Sprint we thought we had a chance to do better but it slowly slipped away from us as we experienced rougher weather. I’ve said it before though that that the points don’t matter to us in this situation. We did what was right and have no regrets at all.’

UNICEF, skippered by Jim Prendergast from Gosport, crossed the line with crew member Martin Clough able to celebrate his birthday on land.

Prendergast has spent the last decade working as a professional sailor, instructor and racer, but shortly after arriving in Australia, resigned as skipper with immediate effect due to health issues.

Martin Clough, who stood in as skipper for the Australia leg, will ultimately continue to lead the team for the remainder of the round-the-world race but is unavailable to do so until Qingdao.

Therefore Clipper Race Australian Training skipper Paul Atwood will take over for the next leg to China via Vietnam.

PSP Logistics came 10th in the race, skippered by Max Stunell, 34, who started sailing on the Solent as a schoolboy in Portsmouth. He said: ‘For me to sail around the world is one of the most noble challenges still available to man.’

Yesterday saw the start of race seven, where competitors are making the gruelling voyage from Airlie Beach to Da Nang, central Vietnam.

It is expected to take about a month to complete.