Yorkshire yacht in podium finish as world’s longest race nears end

Welcome to Yorkshire, the only English member of the 10-strong fleet of 68ft yachts, won third place in the 2,350-mile upwind battle across the North Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland.

The crew of amateur sailors, led by professional skipper Rupert Dean, also secured an extra three points by reaching the scoring gate first.

And they were cheered into port by hundreds of spectators, including family and friends, after 15 days at sea during which they had to negotiate tropical storm Chris.

Mr Dean said conditions were tough and unpredictable.

“As we started Race 13 tropical storm Chris was just starting to develop,” he said.

“At the time I was locked in a battle with Gold Coast Australia and Singapore to be the first team to cross the scoring gate. As a team we were over the moon to win those valuable three points, as we continue to chase Singapore at the top of the leader board.”

Welcome to Yorkshire is now lying fifth overall with just two legs to go.

Mr Dean added: “With just two short races ahead of us we will be focusing a lot more as a team. You can do so much more and work at a more intense pace when you’re racing for just a few days.”

The epic 40,000-mile race, the world’s longest ocean race, is due to end in Southampton, where it started, on July 22.

The penultimate leg, a 260-mile “sprint” from Derry-Londonderry to Den Helder in the Netherlands, will start on Saturday.

More than 500 people from 40 nations are taking part in the latest staging of the biennial race, which was founded by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who in 1968-69 became the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world.