Nova Scotia leads Clipper fleet into Halifax
Nova Scotia led the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race fleet into Halifax at the start of an eight-day stopover in the province. They were welcomed by crowds lining Halifax Waterfront and the iconic Canadian figure of a Mountie - a member of Canada's Royal Mounted Police Force.
'Nova Scotia leads fleet into Halifax Photo: Steve Farmer - Clipper 07-08'
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Ventures Plc ©
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The fleet sailed in formation, past George's Island and Dartmouth before arriving at Cable Wharf at Halifax Waterfront, where they will be berthed for the next four days.
Among the welcoming party was Nova Scotia's Minister of Immigration, the Honourable Len Goucher, who was instrumental in bringing the fleet to the Province. At the official welcome and prizegiving ceremony the Minister said, 'I want my Nova Scotia crew to know that I was Minister of Tourism when this all started and we're very proud to have you all here and very proud to have the province involved in all this. When I saw the Nova Scotia pull into the pier today my heart went about this big so it's just great and I want to say how appreciative we are of everything you've done. Welcome and thank you for making Nova Scotia and myself and everybody else here so proud.
'On behalf of the Government of Nova Scotia I'd like to just take a moment to welcome you all to Nova Scotia and hope you enjoy your stay with us and enjoy all Nova Scotia has to offer.
'The spirit of the race perfectly captures the spirit of our province it's a great opportunity to promote and boost Nova Scotia around the world. Along with our partners we're very pleased to host the Clipper 07-08 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race here in Halifax and later this week in Sydney. And to all the crews, families and friends visiting us here today, I hope you enjoy the time here in Nova Scotia and take time to experience all the wonderful things and beautiful scenery this Province has to offer.'
Overnight the fleet arrived at Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, where they were welcomed with cold beers and hot food at the end of Race 12 from New York. Nova Scotia finished fifth in the race where dense fog and light winds tested the crews' skills and resolve. westernaustralia2011.com's tactical decision to turn towards Halifax earlier than the rest of the fleet paid off as they found more favourable winds to propel them into the lead and claim their first victory of the Clipper 07-08 series. Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper's consistent performance earned them another second place, while Qingdao emerged as victor of their dogfight with Hull & Humber to finish third, just a fifth of a nautical mile separating the two teams when the race finished at 1200 GMT on Saturday 8 June.
Nova Scotia had their own run in with the English boat using stealth tactics to try to outmanoeuvre their opposition, according to skipper, Rob McInally. 'In the dark we crawled around the deck so that they could not see us prepare our spinnaker,' he explains. 'At the last minute we put on the deck light for the hoist of the spinnaker and the drop of the Yankee. Whilst bearing away slightly to fill our spinnaker, I looked up to see Hull & Humber doing the same thing. We had both been trying to do a surprise hoist on the other.'
Writing in their crew blog today, round the world crew member Paul MacGillivary, whose grandfather was born and raised on Cape Breton Island, said, 'We are all proud to be representing Nova Scotia, and pleased, after nine months and more than 30,000 nautical miles, to be finally sailing to our home ports of Halifax and Sydney.
'Most of the crew have no connection to this place called Nova Scotia. But for those of us on board that do, there is a real sense of coming home. There is poetry in returning to the land of your forefathers by the same means that they did-by sea.
We are certain that everyone onboard Nova Scotia, as indeed all Clipper crews, will be entranced and enthralled by the beauty of this land and the warmth of its people in this, their 250th year of democracy.'
During the stopover the ten internationally-backed yachts competing in Clipper 07-08 will take part in the Democracy 250 Race from Halifax to Sydney, one of a number of events to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of democracy in the Province. The teams will set off from Halifax Waterfront at 8.00am local time (1100 GMT) on Thursday and will arrive in Sydney on Friday evening. They will set off from Sydney on their final Atlantic crossing on Monday 16 June.
During the eight days the crews will spend in Nova Scotia they will be treated to the hospitality for which the Province is famed. No sooner had they arrived and attended the welcome ceremony and prizegiving than they were whisked off to be served chowder cooked by some of the best chefs in Halifax, followed by a tour of Keith's Brewery, a reception at the Red Stag Bar followed by more partying at the Lower Deck. On Wednesday crews will enjoy a guided tour of Halifax.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was founded by legendary yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo non-stop around the world. Speaking at the welcome ceremony today, Sir Robin said, 'Thanks so much for a fabulous welcome for Clipper and particularly our crews to your lovely port of Halifax. I love this waterfront. I've only been here once before, two years ago when I hit a whale and thought I'd better come in and do something about it. I know we are going to have a great time here.'
Berths are now available for the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. There will be recruitment presentations at Dartmouth Yacht Club at 8.30pm on Wednesday 11 June and at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion in Sydney at 4pm on Saturday 14 June where people from Nova Scotia can find out more about what it takes to take on the world and how to apply to become a crew member.
by Clipper event media 
Margaret River or Osborne Park (severne shop), WA
